Vulnerable Groups Disproportionately Affected By Extreme Heat in Hong Kong, Green Groups Warn

Two new studies highlight the disproportionate burden of extreme heat on Hong Kong’s most vulnerable groups, including the homeless and those living in inadequate housing.

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Rising temperatures in Hong Kong are taking a significant toll on vulnerable groups like the homeless and those living in the city’s infamous subdivided flats, according to two new surveys published by local environmental groups.

A survey of 31 subdivided flats in a residential area in Hong Kong’s New Territories published Sunday revealed that temperatures can reach levels considered dangerous to human health during the day but particularly at night. Concern groups CarbonCare InnoLab and the Kwai Chung Subdivided Units Kai Fong Association took several temperature recordings between July 3 and 23, during which hot weather warnings were issued 15 times and nine “hot nights” were recorded.

During the day, the average temperature in inadequate housing was 30.8C, with the highest measurement at 39.9C. During that time, temperatures in the city averaged at 29.6C.

At night, conditions were worse, with average maximum temperatures ranging between 29.6C and 31C, and “feels like” temperatures reaching 44C.

All but one household surveyed had air conditioners, while three units were windowless, with one also lacking an exhaust fan.

Heat is extremely dangerous for humans as it compromises physiological processes meant to keep the body cool, heightening the risk of heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. It can be life-threatening if not promptly treated.

High nighttime heat is particularly detrimental to human health, as it prevent the body from recovering from daytime heat. This not only disrupts sleep, which can negatively affect physical and mental health, cognitive function, and life expectancy, but it also increases the risk of illness and mortality. A 2020 study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that five consecutive “hot nights,” defined as when temperatures rise above 28C (82F), would raise the risk of death by 6.66%.

76.7% of the residents surveyed reported feeling exhausted all the time or frequently, and 74% said their sleep was affected. Symptoms such as extreme thirst, dizziness, headaches and palpitations were also reported.

“Sometimes I wake up several times a night, due to the heat and sweating. If I wake up multiple times, I’ll feel less energetic during the day. Sometimes, I’m sleep deprived and feel dizzy… It can affect my work and even my energy level for the rest of the day,” said Jessica, who lives in a 300-square-feet (27.9-square-meter) subdivided flat on a rooftop. Researchers found that units located on rooftops, terraces, and attics heated up significantly more than others.

While air conditioning can help alleviate the heat, many residents including Jessica only use it sparingly as they worry about high electricity costs.

“If I leave it on all night, I won’t wake up from the heat, but it wastes electricity. To conserve electricity, if the room gets cool after a while, I turn on a small fan clipped to the bedside. I keep the windows and doors open, allowing everyone to sleep cool,” said Jessica, who shares her unit with one other person.

Low Utilization Rates of Cooling Centers

Separately, a survey by Greenpeace and ImpactHK revealed that temporary cooling centers, private spaces with air conditioning that the government opens on hot days for people to escape extreme heat, are underutilized.

Nearly 65% of the 97 residents surveyed cited reasons including inconvenient locations and lack of awareness of their existence as the primary reasons for not using cooling centers. Published Tuesday, the survey urged the government to open more community halls and centers as temporary cooling centers in areas where the homeless and inadequate housing are concentrated. 

“The temporary cooling centres have been in operation for over 27 years, but their infrastructure and facilities remain flawed,” said Greenpeace Campaign Director Ng Hon-lam. “These include inappropriate locations, insufficient publicity, a lack of privacy and security measures, and short opening hours. These have led to low utilisation and a failure to help people in need cope with the increasingly long summers and increasing number of hot nights.”

The two concern groups behind Sunday’s survey also urged the government to identify and add more community cooling centres as well as provide a hot weather allowance for low-income residents, noting that many tenants have been overcharged for water and electricity.

In light of the government’s new Basic Housing Units framework, a plan introduced last year aimed at phasing out units smaller than 86 square feet (8 square meters) or those without windows or a toiled, the groups said landlords should also be required to provide air conditioning.

Featured image: Aleksandar Pasaric/Pexels.

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