78% of low-income elderly Hongkongers report heat-related distress, survey finds
Most respondents reported heat-related discomfort, while many lacked awareness of heatstroke risks and available government support
Nearly 80 per cent of low-income elderly people surveyed in Hong Kong reported physical or mental distress during periods of extreme heat, prompting calls for stronger government support and heat-prevention measures.
Data from the Department of Health cited by Greenpeace identified elderly people as the city’s demographic most at risk from extreme temperatures. The number of hospital discharges and deaths related to heatstroke among people aged 65 or above rose 16-fold between 2015 and 2024, from four to 68 – the sharpest increase among all age groups.
The city has been hit by sweltering weather this summer, with temperatures forecast to reach 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) on Friday. Earlier this month, Hong Kong recorded a maximum temperature of 36.9 degrees, the highest since records began in 1884.
For its study released Monday, Greenpeace interviewed 127 residents aged 65 or above in June and July across seven districts with rapidly ageing populations, including Kwai Tsing, Wong Tai Sin and Kowloon City. More than half lived in public housing, while 35 per cent lived in inadequate housing.