Hong Kong elderly urged to stay indoors as air pollution spikes to serious levels

Severe haze in Hong Kong over the past two days has prompted a government warning of serious health risks, with experts urging the elderly and vulnerable to stay indoors until sunset.

Air quality health risk levels at some of Hong Kong’s roadside monitoring stations rose on Wednesday and Thursday, with experts attributing the surge to elevated ozone levels caused by sunlight and high temperatures and warning that conditions were likely to persist over the next few days.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Air Quality Health Index issued by the Environmental Protection Department reached a “serious” health risk level at its Tuen Mun station, where it remained for two hourly readings.

The pollution persisted on Thursday, with Central/Western, Southern, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun and Sha Tin stations recording “high” health risk levels at 4pm. An hour later, the Southern station reached a “very high” level.