Heat Stress at Work Warning system is intended to alert outdoor manual workers and those indoors with limited ventilation to risks
4-MIN READ4-MIN ListenTheodora YuPublished: 10:39pm, 13 Aug 2026Updated: 10:47pm, 13 Aug 2026Hong Kong residents have borne the brunt of extreme weather this summer, with July rainfall exceeding the monthly norm by 23 per cent, followed by hot spells in August linked to Tropical Cyclone Dolphin’s influence.As of Thursday, the maximum temperature recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) or above for nine consecutive days, marking the longest streak of very hot days for the month of August.
The heat has been felt particularly keenly by outdoor workers, prompting debate over whether the Labour Department’s heat stress warning signals are sufficient.
The signals are intended to alert outdoor manual workers, including construction workers and street cleaners, as well as those who work indoors with limited ventilation.
On Sunday, the Observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 36.9 degrees at its headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui – the highest since the forecaster began keeping records in 1884.
