Hong Kong tightens heat alert system after outdoor workers left vulnerable

Hong Kong will automatically escalate workplace heat warnings when temperatures hit 35 degrees Celsius in multiple districts, the Labour Department announced Thursday, with the changes taking effect Friday.

Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui Chark-shum unveiled two new trigger conditions that will force the Heat Stress at Work warning system to raise its alert level by one tier, from amber to red, or red to black, when widespread readings reach the 35-degree threshold.

System failed during extreme heat

The revisions follow a fortnight of criticism after the three-tier system failed to issue higher-level alerts even as parts of Hong Kong recorded temperatures exceeding 39 degrees Celsius earlier this month. Since its launch three years ago, the warning scheme, designed to advise outdoor workers on heatstroke prevention, has issued only the lowest amber alerts, never progressing to red or black warnings despite scorching conditions.

The Labour Department also introduced a second condition tied to Hong Kong Observatory forecasts: whenever the Observatory issues an "Extremely Hot Weather" Special Alert, the thresholds for triggering higher warnings will be lowered. Currently, that special alert automatically triggers only an amber warning.

The changes address a system that critics said left outdoor workers exposed during dangerous heat episodes, when the advisory mechanism remained stuck at its lowest alert level even as actual temperatures climbed far above typical summer highs.

Source: South China Morning Post