Legislator suggests more flexibility when issuing Heat Stress warning

The Very Hot Weather Warning is still in force.

The Hong Kong Observatory says temperatures

over many districts rose to 37 degrees Celsius or above, with Sheung Shui

pushing as high as 39 degrees.

Amid the the increasingly scorching weather, a legislator says the government could exercise more flexibility when issuing Heat Stress at Work signals.

The blistering heat continues to affect Hong Kong.

While tropical storm Dolphin is weakening gradually, the local mercury remains high.

On Monday afternoon, temperatures in multiple districts shot above 37 degrees, including Wong Tai Sin and Sheung Shui.

The Observatory forecasts the heat will persist until the middle of the week before it takes a turn on Friday, bringing a few showers to the territory.

Meanwhile, some labour unions call on the Labour Department to review its Heat Stress at Work Warning issuance mechanism.

This comes after authorities issued the Amber warning, the lowest level of the three-tier system, on Sunday, Hong Kong hottest day on record.

A legislator representing the workers says

the government could be more flexible

when issuing the Heat Stress at Work signals.

"If the government continues to use the existing mechanismbecause now if the heat index reaches 32, the government would issue a red warning signal Yesterday was extremely hot, but the heat index is only around 31, so there is still a distance to reach. Whether the government could do some adjustments, so the workers can have more rest time," says LegCo member Lam Chung-sing.

Asked if he thinks heat stroke should be added to the list of occupational diseases, Lam also says the government could conduct a review.

While Lam says employers and employees now have better awareness of heat stroke and its consequences, he urges the Labour Department to step up inspections at work sites.

Legislator suggests gov't exercise more flexible

when issuing Heat Stress at Work signals