Lack of heat action plan leaves Hong Kong’s vulnerable residents at risk, experts warn

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Environmentalists and academics warn that Hong Kong lacks a systemic heat-health action plan, leaving vulnerable residents exposed as temperatures rise. University of Hong Kong research estimates extreme heat may have contributed to as many as 3,238 excess deaths in the city over the past decade.

Environmentalists and academics have criticised the omission of a systemic heat-health action plan in Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and latest policy address, warning that relying on “common sense” is failing to protect vulnerable residents from rising temperatures. Their comments came as new research from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) found that extreme heat may have contributed to as many as 3,238 excess deaths in the city over the past decade. In response to the South China Morning...