Extreme heat on the way as temps could hit 37 degrees this weekend

Hong Kong sweltered today under the Very Hot Weather Warning.

Forecasters warn that temperatures could top 37 degrees over the weekend.

A construction worker union says nearly 40% of workers receive no extra rest during extreme heat.

Despite the arrival of "Liqiu" on the traditional Chinese solar calendar, which marks the start of autumn, the city continues to see scorching weather.

By midday, temperatures had exceeded 34 degrees in Wong Tai Sin and Kowloon City.

It even topped 35 degrees in Tseung Kwan O, Sheung Shui and Yuen Long, while Happy Valley logged temperatures above 35 degrees.

This as Typhoon Dolphin is moving across the Ryukyu Islands and is forecast to enter the East China Sea.

With Tropical Cyclone Dolphin moving towards the vicinity of Zhejiang and northern Fujian, its outer subsiding air will persistently bring extremely hot weather to the territory during the weekend and on next Monday.

Temperatures in some areas will reach 37 degrees or above. The Observatory is also monitoring a low-pressure area near Hainan Island, which is expected to move into the north-central South China Sea over these two days, bringing unsettled weather.

By the middle of next week, a southwesterly airstream is expected to bring several showers to Hong Kong.

A labour union survey has found that nearly 40% of workers were not given additional rest breaks under the extremely hot weather. The Service Industry General Union under the Federation of Hong Kong surveyed more than 500 workers between mid-April and early August.

Around 37% of respondents said their employers failed to provide additional rest breaks in accordance with the Labour Department's Guidance on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work during periods of extreme heat.

The union criticised the existing guidelines as lacking legal force and urged the government to lead by requiring contractors to provide heat-protection equipment for workers and recognise heatstroke as a compensable occupational disease.