Survey Finds Subdivided Flat Night Temperatures Exceed Observatory Hot Night Threshold
Crhk · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A joint survey by the Low Carbon Consortium and the Subdivided Flat Support Network has revealed that inadequate housing in Hong Kong recorded average indoor temperatures exceeding 29 degrees Celsius over the past two months, surpassing the Observatory's 28-degree hot night threshold even during nighttime hours. The study tracked 86 households across 78 subdivided units from June to July, with daytime highs exceeding 44 degrees. Nearly 90 percent of caregivers reported that air-conditioning costs imposed a severe financial burden.
Key Points
- Survey conducted from June to July monitored 86 households in 78 subdivided flats, finding daytime average of 29.93°C and nighttime average of 29.42°C
- Daytime temperatures in some units exceeded 44°C, while nighttime readings remained above the Observatory's 28°C hot night threshold
- Nearly 90% of caregivers surveyed said air-conditioning electricity costs were a heavy burden, with summer bills reaching HK$3.9 per square foot
- A mother of three living in an 80 sq ft subdivided flat in Sai Wan Ho described her home as a steamer, with her child developing rashes from the heat
- An elderly couple in their 70s residing in an 80 sq ft unit in Kwai Chung experienced dizziness and breathing difficulties from the extreme heat
Why It Matters
The findings expose a critical health and welfare gap for Hong Kong's most vulnerable residents, who face both dangerous indoor temperatures and prohibitively expensive cooling costs during increasingly severe summers. This comes as subdivided flat electricity rates average HK$3.9 per square foot—double that of public housing residents—placing low-income families in an impossible position between heat-related health risks and financial strain.
The findings expose a critical health and welfare gap for Hong Kong's most vulnerable residents, who face both dangerous indoor temperatures and prohibitively expensive cooling costs during increasingly severe summers. This comes as subdivided flat electricity rates average HK$3.9 per square foot—double that of public housing residents—placing low-income families in an impossible position between heat-related health risks and financial strain.