Summer nights in Hong Kong subdivided flats can feel like 44°C, survey finds
Residents living in 'inadequate housing,' such as subdivided flats and rooftop or podium units, suffer from health problems due to extreme heat worsened by high humidity, according to a survey released on Sunday by CarbonCare InnoLab and the Kwai Chung Subdivided Units Kai Fong Association.
The two organisations surveyed 31 households in Kwai Chung between July 3 and 23, during which the Hong Kong Observatory issued the very hot weather warning 15 times and recorded nine 'hot nights.'
The survey showed that during the day, the average maximum temperature in inadequate housing reached 30.8°C, with the highest hitting 39.9°C – up to 10°C hotter than the Observatory's citywide daily average of 29.6°C.
Conditions were worse at night, with average maximum temperatures ranging from 29.6°C to 31°C, and the highest apparent temperature — the temperature perceived by humans — climbing to 44°C.
The average humidity inside the surveyed households was over 72 per cent, raising the apparent temperature to a warning level, the study found.
Over 70 per cent of respondents said the extreme heat left them feeling fatigued, with frequent heat-related symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and heart palpitations.
Seventy-four per cent said they woke up earlier than usual due to the heat, while more than 60 per cent were unable to fall asleep at all. The impact of sleep deprivation was particularly pronounced among manual labourers, the survey said.
The concern groups urged the government to provide a hot weather allowance to ease the financial burden on low-income residents, after 65 per cent of respondents cited electricity costs as a reason for not using air-conditioning frequently during extreme heat.
They also proposed identifying and adding more community cooling centres to allow residents of subdivided flats to take shelter conveniently during heatwaves.
Hong Kong has an estimated 110,000 subdivided units housing around 220,000 residents, according to authorities. NGOs have long highlighted the cramped living conditions and poor fire safety standards in many such units.
In last year's policy address, Chief Executive John Lee introduced the Basic Housing Units framework aimed at phasing out substandard subdivided units.
The survey released on Sunday suggested that the government's framework should also require landlords to provide air-conditioning in these units. It further noted that many tenants have been overcharged for water and electricity.
The groups called for the bill to include enforcement measures to deter such abuses.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
HKFP
4 hours ago
- HKFP
Hong Kong lowers black rainstorm warning to amber after hoisting highest-level warning for 5th time this year
Hong Kong has lowered its fifth black rainstorm warning of the year as Tropical Cyclone Podul weakened. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) hoisted the black rainstorm warning at 7.50am on Thursday, as the T1 storm signal was in force. The black rainstorm signal – the city's highest-level rainstorm warning – means that heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall citywide, exceeding 70 millimetres of rainfall in an hour. It was the fifth time the black rainstorm signal went up since July 29, more than two weeks ago. It was downgraded to the red signal at 11.10am. The Observatory then replaced the red signal with the amber signal at 12.20pm but warned that there was still flooding in some low-lying and poorly drained areas and that heavy rain may still cause flash floods. The Central and Western District was particularly hard hit on Thursday, with videos and photos circulating online showing flooding on Water Street in Sai Ying Pun and the vicinity of the University of Hong Kong. The Observatory issued a landslip warning for the Southern District, citing particularly heavy rain in the area. It called on people and drivers to pay attention to landslides and stay away from slopes. The Airport Authority said it cancelled five flights scheduled before 2pm, with 145 flights delayed. It also said that the airport would maintain normal operations despite the inclement weather, though apron operations were suspended at one point due to an airport lighting warning signal. Meanwhile, the Education Bureau announced that all classes had been cancelled for the day. Services resume Employees returned to work, and public services gradually resumed on Thursday afternoon, after the signal was downgraded. Hospital services, including specialist outpatient clinics, allied health and other day services would resume within two hours after the black rainstorm warning signal was lowered, with general outpatient clinics resuming service at 2pm, according to the Hospital Authority's statement on Thursday. Immigration services would resume within two hours, according to a statement issued just before noon on Thursday. Services, including childcare centres and after-school care programmes run by the Social Welfare Department, remained open. Transport Department services would also resume within two hours following the cancellation of the black rainstorm warning. Meanwhile, the Judiciary announced that all court and tribunal hearings on Thursday, including a hearing for closing arguments in the national security trial of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, would be postponed. The tropical cyclone's outer rainbands will continue to bring showers and squally thunderstorms to the city, the HKO said. Showers are still expected on Friday, with more sunshine on Saturday. Podul is forecast to dissipate gradually over central China on Friday, according to the Observatory, with showers easing off the coast of Guangdong in the middle of next week. This year's fourth black rainstorm signal was hoisted on Tuesday last week, with the Observatory recording 358.8 millimetres of rainfall at its Tsim Sha Tsui headquarters – the highest daily rainfall in August since records began in 1884.
RTHK
8 hours ago
- RTHK
Heavy rain expected to persist: HK Observatory
Heavy rain expected to persist: HK Observatory Authorities have deployed water-pumping machines across Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of the Drainage Services Department The Hong Kong Observatory has cautioned against flooding triggered by torrential downpours as it lowered the Black Rainstorm Warning signal on Thursday. The Red Rainstorm Warning Signal was issued at 11.10am to replace the city's fifth black alert of the year, which lasted for more than three hours. The signal was further lowered to amber at 12.10am. Flooding swept through parts of the city when the black rain signal was in force, with online footage showing water gushing up to the road from a gutter on Water Street in Sai Ying Pun. Meanwhile, the water level on Pok Fu Lam Road was as high as 200 millimetres at one point. The Drainage Services Department said there were six water pumping robots in use, including three newly acquired machines. Five cases of flooding were received as of 10.30am. The Airport Authority said of the flights scheduled before 2pm, five had been cancelled and another 145 delayed. It also said operations on the apron were temporarily suspended when the airport-specific Red Lightning Warning was in force. The Standby Signal No. 1, meanwhile, was cancelled at 12.20pm as Tropical Storm Podul moves further away from the territory. _____________________________ Last updated: 2025-08-14 HKT 12:20
RTHK
8 hours ago
- RTHK
Heavy rain expected to persist: HK Observatory
Heavy rain expected to persist: HK Observatory Authorities have deployed water-pumping machines across Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of the Drainage Services Department The Hong Kong Observatory has cautioned against flooding triggered by torrential downpours as it lowered the Black Rainstorm Warning signal on Thursday. The Red Rainstorm Warning Signal was issued at 11.10am to replace the city's fifth black alert of the year, which lasted for more than three hours. The signal was further lowered to amber at 12.10am. Flooding swept through parts of the city when the black rain signal was in force, with online footage showing water gushing up to the road from a gutter on Water Street in Sai Ying Pun. Meanwhile, the water level on Pok Fu Lam Road was as high as 200 millimetres at one point. The Drainage Services Department said there were six water pumping robots in use, including three newly acquired machines. Five cases of flooding were received as of 10.30am. The Airport Authority said of the flights scheduled before 2pm, five had been cancelled and another 145 delayed. It also said operations at the airport ramp were temporarily suspended when it issued the Red Lightning Warning. The Standby Signal No. 1, meanwhile, will be cancelled at 12.20pm as Tropical Storm Podul moves further away from the territory.
