14 elderly people have been hospitalised due to hypothermia as a cold front continues to sweep over Hong Kong. Four of them are in a critical condition.
The Hospital Authority announced on Tuesday that those hospitalised as of 5pm included five men and nine women aged between 61 and 98 years.
Seven are in a serious condition, and three are stable.
The Home Affairs Department opened 17 temporary cold shelters overnight to allow people to seek refuge.
”List of government cold shelters: Click to view.“
Hong Kong Districts:
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Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, 2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern/Wan Chai –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, Waiting Lobby,
7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
Kowloon Districts:
——————
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
Multi-purpose Room, 1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
Hall, G/F, 45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Sham Shui Po –
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, Sham Shui Po
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories:
—————-
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House,
Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing –
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
A spokesperson for the Centre for Health Protection said the cold weather can trigger or exacerbate diseases, especially among the elderly. “Elderly people have less insulating fat beneath their skin to keep them warm and their body temperature control mechanism may be weaker. Their body may not be able to appropriately respond to the cold weather,” the spokesperson said.
Hong Kong recorded temperatures of 9-10 degrees Celsius on Wednesday morning, slightly higher than Tuesday. The cold weather warning remains in force.
Temperatures are expected to rise over the weekend, reaching a maximum of 22 degrees Celsius by the middle of next week.
