From Friday, Hong Kong's Labour Department will optimize its heat warning system by lowering the trigger threshold and automatically raising the alert by one level when measured temperatures reach 35 C or above across most of the city.

The review comes following a public outcry over the recent heat wave, when only the amber alert — the lowest level of the three-tier Heat Stress at Work Warning system — was issued during record-high temperatures.

No red or black warnings, which require employers to take measures — such as increasing the rest periods for workers based on their physical workload and the site conditions — have ever been implemented since the system’s launch in 2023.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com