News - South China Morning Post
· collected 2026-09-06 · by Dennis Lee
The Hong Kong Labour Department has upgraded its Heat Stress at Work Warning system to quickly alert employers and workers during hot weather. In 2024, Hong Kong experienced 52 very hot days (33 degrees Celsius or higher) and in 2023, it already had three extremely hot days in August with a record high of 36.9 degrees. The article notes that while air conditioning is widely available in Hong Kong, this may be a luxury few can afford in Europe where energy costs are significantly higher. It suggests looking beyond air conditioning as a solution to heatwaves and exploring passive cooling measures like those used historically in European buildings.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Hong Kong is experiencing record-breaking hot temperatures, with 36.9 degrees Celsius recorded in August and 39.8 degrees Celsius in Sheung Shui. This marks a rapid increase from previous years, including 2024, which saw 52 very hot days and two extremely hot days. The Labour Department has upgraded its heat stress warning system to send out alerts more quickly, but experts say that even with these measures, the city is still not equipped to handle extreme summers. Hong Kong's reliance on air conditioning is highlighted by the fact that condensation units are a common sight, even in wealthy neighborhoods and shopping malls. The article suggests that the city needs to look beyond air conditioning and adopt more effective cooling measures, but notes that this would be a technical challenge.
Written for “Heat Wave Solutions” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.55 for article 5598 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-06
The Labour Department recently
upgraded its Heat Stress at Work Warning system, making it easier for higher-tier alerts to be sent out, so that employers and workers, especially those who have to work outdoors, can react quickly during very hot weather.
asserted
who → upgrade → weather
Unfortunately, the most we seem to be able to do is issue warnings and recommend passive mitigation measures such as relaxing the work schedule, resting in the shade and staying hydrated.
asserted
we → seem → shade
We are sitting ducks as temperatures peak
year after year.
asserted
temperatures → sit → year
This has been a testing summer with multiple record-breaking hot days across the globe.
asserted
This → test → globe
In 2024, Hong Kong’s
hottest year on record since 1884 saw 52 very hot days (33 degrees Celsius or higher) and just two extremely hot days (35 degrees or higher); the highest temperature hit that year was 35.7 degrees in September.
asserted
temperature → see → September
This year, we have already seen three extremely hot days in August alone and a
record high of 36.9 degrees – according to the Observatory in Tsim Sha Tsui; at the Sheung Shui weather station, the mercury
hit 39.8 degrees.
uncertain
mercury → see → degrees
How much human action has contributed to the extreme weather we are experiencing is up for debate.
asserted
we → contribute → debate
Are the heatwaves, super typhoons and storms, torrential rains and floods, and severe droughts around the world the result of irresponsible climate crimes we have committed?
asserted
we → commit → crimes
While it is easy to point fingers, empirical science demands solid evidence and data analysis.
asserted
science → point → evidence
What we do know, for certain, is that the heatwaves in Asia are linked to a
strong El Nino pattern developed in the Pacific Ocean when waters became warmer, affecting trade winds.
asserted
waters → know → winds
No country in Asia was entirely spared from the extreme weather and all have developed some form of advisory system and national processes to battle the heat.
asserted
all → spar → heat
Hong Kong was able to handle the heat a bit better but only because we are spoiled by the convenience of air conditioning.
asserted
we → handle → conditioning
From high-end homes in wealthy neighbourhoods to deteriorating tenement houses in dilapidated districts, condensation units are a familiar sight and strolling in the city’s overly air-conditioned shopping malls has become a sport for common folk during the summer.
asserted
strolling → deteriorate → summer
Many had no air conditioning but this was not only because of regulatory restrictions, historic preservation mandates or environmental concerns.
asserted
this → have → restrictions
The continent historically enjoyed mild and short summers, so buildings tended to adopt passive cooling measures, which used to be able to handle the warmest days; it would be a technical challenge to retrofit many of these structures.
asserted
it → enjoy → structures
Also, given that energy costs in Europe are significantly higher than in North America or Asia, air conditioning is a luxury few can afford.
asserted
few → give → America
