HKO and SCHSA remind public to beware of extremely hot weather

27 June 2024

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association (SCHSA) held a joint press conference today (June 27) to remind the public to get prepared for the very hot weather in summer.

The Acting Assistant Director of the HKO, Mr Cheng Yuen-chung, reminded the public, especially the elderly, "The Very Hot Weather Warning has been in force for more than seven days since its issuance on June 20, and the weather in Hong Kong is persistently very hot. The temperature at the HKO on Summer Solstice last Friday reached 34.0 degrees, the highest so far this year and equaling the record high for Summer Solstice set in 1980. Under the influence of the subtropical ridge, high temperatures weather will continue today and tomorrow over southern China including Hong Kong, and may reach the extremely hot level (35.0 degrees or above). Members of the public should pay attention to the change in weather and take adequate protective measures against the heat." He further explained, "When the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force, if the temperature generally reaches the extremely hot level or when high temperatures weather lasts for a few days, the HKO will issue a Special Weather Tips and deliver it by push notification through the 'MyObservatory' mobile application to alert the public of the 'extremely hot weather' or 'prolonged heat' and to take appropriate precautions."

The Chief Executive Officer of the SCHSA, Ms Maura Wong, said, "During the persistently very hot weather recently, the SCHSA has seen a significant increase in the number of help requests from the elderly and recorded a surge of over 20 per cent in the number of elderly individuals being sent to hospitals within a week. The elderly is one of the groups more vulnerable to heat stroke, especially those living in cramped homes without air conditioning, as well as the elderly with chronic illness, and those elderly singletons or elderly doubletons. We urge the elderly and their families to remain vigilant in very hot weather to prevent heat stroke. If they feel unwell, they should immediately seek help through the 'Care-on-Call' service or seek medical advice. Given that extreme weather is becoming more frequent, we call on the public to proactively care for the elderly around them, remind the elderly to pay attention to the weather conditions and take precautionary measures."

For more information on protection against the heat, please visit the following websites:

The HKO on precautions of the Very Hot Weather Warning: www.hko.gov.hk/en/wservice/warning/coldhot.htm

The Department of Health "Beware of Heat Stroke": www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/90064.html

The Labour Department "Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work": www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm

The Home Affairs Department on temporary heat shelters: www.had.gov.hk/en/public_services/emergency_services/emergency.htm

The Acting Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Cheng Yuen-chung, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association, Ms Maura Wong, held a joint press conference today (June 27) to remind the public to get prepared for the very hot weather in summer.