Hong Kong’s Heat Stress at Work warning system will be automatically upgraded when temperatures reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) across multiple districts, after labour authorities lowered its activation thresholds following criticism.
Two weeks after the system — which advises outdoor workers to take measures to prevent heatstroke — drew criticism for failing to issue higher-level alerts despite scorching temperatures, the Labour Department on Thursday announced changes that will take effect on Friday.
The three-tier system has issued only the lowest-level “Amber” warning, and not “Red” or “Black” warnings, in the three years since its launch. This remained the case even when temperatures in parts of Hong Kong exceeded 39 degrees Celsius earlier this month.
Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui Chark-shum on Thursday introduced two new conditions. When temperatures measured in many parts of Hong Kong generally reach 35 degrees Celsius or above, the warning level will automatically be raised by one level – from amber to red, or from red to black.
Whenever the Hong Kong Observatory issues an “Extremely Hot Weather” Special Alert, the thresholds for triggering higher warnings will be lowered. Currently, when the special alert takes effect, authorities immediately issue an Amber warning.
