Gov't Reviews Heat Warning System After Former Observatory Chief's Criticism
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
The Labour and Welfare Bureau has acknowledged that the Labour Department is actively consulting with the Hong Kong Observatory and other relevant units to review and potentially adjust the Work Heat Stress Warning system. This response comes after former Observatory Director Lam Chiu-ying publicly criticized the current warning framework as fundamentally disconnected from real-world working conditions. Lam specifically pointed out that the existing guidelines fail to account for outdoor exposure to direct sunlight, calling for black globe temperature and wet bulb temperature to be used as calculation standards instead. Reports suggest the Observatory had been prepared to release black globe and wet bulb data to the public but encountered resistance from unspecified government quarters. Deputy Secretary Ho Kai-ming declined to confirm whether any government department opposed this disclosure, responding only that efforts would focus on minimizing workers' injury risks.
Key Points
- Former Observatory chief Lam Chiu-ying stated the warning level remained "yellow" on a recent day, clarifying this was not the Observatory's decision and that blaming the Observatory would be unfair
- Lam emphasized the current heat stress guidelines do not incorporate outdoor sun exposure scenarios, and should instead adopt black globe and wet bulb temperature as calculation standards
- Black globe temperature measures solar radiation and heat emitted from surfaces like asphalt roads and building walls, while wet bulb temperature reflects human perspiration effectiveness
- Sources indicate the Observatory was prepared to publish black globe and wet bulb data to the public, but faced opposition from "a certain department" concerned about alarming the labour sector
- Deputy Secretary Ho Kai-ming confirmed the Labour Department is conducting research and discussing adjustments with the Observatory, stating the government has heard public and expert opinions
- Regarding compensation for heatstroke-related deaths, Ho noted that under existing laws, heatstroke is generally not covered under standard workplace injury provisions
- Ho declined to confirm whether government departments opposed making the temperature data public, responding only that efforts aim to minimize workers' injury risks to the greatest extent possible
Why It Matters
With outdoor workers facing increasing heat risks amid climate change, the adequacy of Hong Kong's Work Heat Stress Warning system directly affects the safety of vulnerable labour groups including construction workers, delivery personnel, and street cleaners . The controversy over transparency and scientific standards in heat warnings also raises broader questions about how government agencies coordinate public safety policies and communicate environmental risks to the public .
With outdoor workers facing increasing heat risks amid climate change, the adequacy of Hong Kong's Work Heat Stress Warning system directly affects the safety of vulnerable labour groups including construction workers, delivery personnel, and street cleaners . The controversy over transparency and scientific standards in heat warnings also raises broader questions about how government agencies coordinate public safety policies and communicate environmental risks to the public .