Soaring temperatures in substandard housing across Hong Kong reach a sweltering 40 degrees, according to a survey.
In a recent study conducted by CarbonCare InnoLab and the Kwai Chung Subdivided Units Kai Fong Association, temperatures in substandard housing units in Hong Kong were found to be higher than the average recorded by the Hong Kong Observatory. The study, released on Sunday, highlights a severe urban heat problem in these properties.
The survey involved polling 31 households living in substandard flats last month. All respondents reported experiencing symptoms of overheating, with 45% reporting feeling very thirsty, and 20% experiencing headaches or an increased heart rate. The situation is particularly severe for tenants living in rooftop homes and flats in industrial buildings, where temperatures can reach alarming levels.
One such example is a rooftop hut in one of the studied substandard flats, which reached a temperature of 39.9 degrees Celsius. Tat Tai, a member of the Kwai Chung Subdivided Units Kai Fong Association, stated that subdivided flats tenants are suffering from extremely hot weather.
However, the survey did not specify the timeframe during which the symptoms were experienced, nor did it indicate whether any medical professionals were consulted regarding the reported symptoms.
The study's authors have urged the government to provide an electricity allowance for tenants during summer to alleviate the issue. In addition, they propose several solutions to address the urban heat problem in substandard housing, particularly for subdivided flats and rooftop homes.
One solution is improving access and infrastructure of temporary cooling centers. Currently, government-run cooling centers suffer from inconvenient locations, insufficient publicity, poor privacy, security concerns, and limited hours, leading to very low utilization by vulnerable residents like those in subdivided flats. Expanding the number and better situating these centers in areas with inadequate housing is urged, alongside improving their operation and awareness.
Another solution is mandating landlords to provide air conditioning. With the new Basic Housing Units framework aiming to phase out extremely small or windowless units, there are calls for landlords to be required to install air conditioning to reduce indoor heat in subdivided units.
Increasing vegetation and urban greening is also recommended as a general urban heat island (UHI) mitigation strategy. Hong Kong has some urban design guidance on this, which could support cooling efforts.
Lastly, due to rising cooling costs that disproportionately affect low-income tenants, providing financial assistance such as hot weather allowances or subsidies for utilities is recommended to help residents afford cooling.
In conclusion, addressing heat in substandard housing involves improving cooling infrastructure and access, enforcing housing quality standards (including mandatory air conditioning), enhancing urban greenery to combat heat island effects, and offering financial support to vulnerable residents facing cost barriers to cooling.
Science plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing the health-and-wellness issues faced by residents in Hong Kong's substandard housing, such as the severe urban heat problem. Moreover, the study of environmental-science, specifically urban heat island effects, could yield valuable insights in developing solutions to alleviate the heat issues in these properties, therefore improving mental-health and overall quality of life for the affected individuals.
