Nearly 80% of Low‑Income Elderly Hongkongers Suffer Heat‑Related Distress

A recent survey by environmental group Greenpeace Hong Kong reveals that nearly 80 percent of low-income elderly residents in the city have experienced heat-related physical or mental distress due to rising temperatures. The findings underscore the severe impact of extreme heat on one of the city’s most vulnerable populations.

Conducted between June and July 2024, the survey included 127 residents aged 65 or older across seven districts with rapidly aging populations. More than half of the respondents live in public rental housing, while over a third reside in inadequate housing such as subdivided units or rooftop squatter huts. Sixty percent of those surveyed live alone or with an elderly partner, further increasing their risk during extreme weather.

According to the survey, 78.7 percent of respondents reported at least one form of heat-related discomfort affecting their health, mood, or sleep. An additional 5.5 percent said they had been hospitalized due to heat-related illness in the past year. Greenpeace campaigner Prudence Yeung described extreme heat as a “silent killer” for elderly residents, noting that declining physiological functions and chronic illnesses heighten their vulnerability.

Official data obtained by Greenpeace from the Hong Kong Department of Health shows a 16-fold increase in heatstroke-related hospital discharges and deaths among those aged 65 or above between 2015 and 2024, rising from four to 68 cases. This spike is the most pronounced among all age groups and does not include hospitalizations for other heat-related conditions.

Despite the risks, more than 70 percent of elderly residents underestimated their vulnerability to heatstroke, often believing they would remain safe by staying indoors. The survey also found that about one-third of respondents never or rarely use air conditioning, a figure that jumps to 55 percent among those in inadequate housing. High electricity costs and lack of units were cited as the main barriers.

Nearly 80 percent of respondents reported not receiving any heat-related community services, such as cooling supplies or educational resources, in the past two years. Close to 60 percent said government support during extreme heat was insufficient, while 27 percent were unaware of any available policies. Nearly 90 percent had never visited a government heat shelter.

Greenpeace has called on authorities to develop a “people-centred” action plan to address extreme heat, including stronger public awareness campaigns on heatstroke prevention. The call comes as Hong Kong experiences record-breaking temperatures. On August 9, the Hong Kong Observatory’s Tsim Sha Tsui headquarters recorded a maximum temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius, the highest in over 140 years.

Climate experts warn that heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent due to human-caused climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes that rising greenhouse gas emissions trap heat in the atmosphere, increasing surface temperatures and prolonging dangerous heat conditions. Hong Kong has already warmed by 1.7 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution, and a 2023 study warns that heat and humidity could reach lethal levels in some areas by the end of the century.

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