Labour Dept Vows Overhaul of Heat Warning System After Record Temps
HKFP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's Labour Department announced plans to revamp its Heat Stress at Work warning system after it failed to issue higher alerts during record-breaking temperatures that reached 36.9 degrees Celsius last Sunday. The Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui acknowledged confusion over why the warning remained at the lowest amber level despite extreme heat. Former Observatory chief Lam Chiu-ying had criticized the mechanism as merely decorative, prompting the department to seek improvements in collaboration with weather experts.
Key Points
- Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui confirmed the department will work with the Hong Kong Observatory to improve warning sensitivity to unusually high temperatures
- Hong Kong recorded its highest temperature ever at 36.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday at the Observatory's Tsim Sha Tsui headquarters, under the influence of Tropical Cyclone Dolphin
- The Heat Stress at Work warning system remained at the amber level throughout the weekend despite the extreme heat
- Former Observatory chief Lam Chiu-ying described the warning system as baffling and decorative, noting it has never triggered red or black alerts
- The warning system consists of amber, red and black levels with recommended rest arrangements, though none are legally binding on employers
Why It Matters
The failure of Hong Kong's heat warning system during record temperatures leaves outdoor and non-air-conditioned workers without clear statutory protections during increasingly extreme weather conditions. With climate change driving more frequent heatwaves, the department's promised revamp could establish binding safety standards that have been absent since the system's 2019 launch .
The failure of Hong Kong's heat warning system during record temperatures leaves outdoor and non-air-conditioned workers without clear statutory protections during increasingly extreme weather conditions. With climate change driving more frequent heatwaves, the department's promised revamp could establish binding safety standards that have been absent since the system's 2019 launch .