Editorial | Hong Kong heat index deserves a warm reception
- Initiative offers some relief to those in Hong Kong working outdoors day after day under the blazing sun amid record temperatures
Hong Kong’s summer can be stifling, as the long hot spell in recent days has reminded us. But unlike its European counterparts, the city is obsessed with air conditioning, with most indoor premises fully equipped to keep people cool.
Unfortunately, not everyone can seek refuge from the heat, and many of those working outdoors have no choice but to brave scorching temperatures to make a living.
The issue is, thankfully, being addressed by the new government. For the first time, a heat index that better reflects the weather will be included in labour guidelines to help prevent heatstroke.
The initiative is a breath of fresh air for those affected.
What really sets the index apart from the existing guidelines and weather warnings is that it will not just be based on a particular mercury reading. Factors such as humidity, direct sunlight exposure, intensity of work, and workwear fabrics are also taken into account, according to labour and welfare minister Chris Sun Yuk-han.
The hot weather warning system of the Hong Kong Observatory has been in place since 2000. The Labour Department has also issued informal guidelines on the assessment of heat stress in the workplace, under which employers are alerted to risks when the temperature and humidity exceed 32 degrees Celsius and 85 per cent respectively.