Hong Kong elderly face health crisis from extreme heat

A Greenpeace survey has revealed that 78.7 percent of low-income elderly residents in Hong Kong have experienced physical or mental distress due to extreme heat. The study, which surveyed 127 residents aged 65 or older across seven districts, highlights the vulnerability of the city’s aging and inadequately housed populations to rising temperatures.

Data analyzed by Greenpeace from the Department of Health shows a significant increase in heat-related medical emergencies. Between 2015 and 2024, hospital discharges and deaths related to heatstroke among residents aged 65 and older rose 16-fold, increasing from four to 68 cases annually. Greenpeace campaigner Prudence Yeung described extreme heat as a ‘silent killer’ for seniors due to declining physiological functions and chronic illnesses.

Housing conditions play a critical role in these health outcomes. Approximately 35.4 percent of respondents live in inadequate housing, such as subdivided units or rooftop squatter huts, where poor insulation and lack of airflow trap heat. Financial constraints also limit relief, as roughly one-third of the surveyed elderly population reported they rarely or never use air conditioning. Additionally, the survey found that over 70 percent of elderly residents tend to underestimate heat-related health risks.