Hong Kong on Sunday sweltered through its hottest day ever with a scorching 36.9 degrees Celsius recorded at the Observatory in the afternoon, the highest since records began in 1884.

Earlier, the Observatory had recorded a reading of 36.7 C as of 1.15pm, beating the previous record of 36.6 C in 2017 before Typhoon Hato hit the city.

In Sheung Shui, the mercury hit 39.8 C, the city's highest reading since automatic weather stations were introduced in the 1980s.

Many districts clocked 37 C or above, with forecasters warning that the extreme heat is likely to persist over the next couple of days and continue into the middle of the week.

"The outer subsiding air of Severe Typhoon Dolphin is bringing generally fine and extremely hot weather to Guangdong," the Observatory said.

In Mong Kok, residents and visitors alike shared their strategies for staying cool.

Local woman Ashraf, clutching an iced beverage, emphasised the importance of being sensible under the blazing sun – staying hydrated and seeking shade – but insisted she wouldn't let the weather spoil her weekend.

"I grew up in Hong Kong so for sure this is hotter than I have ever seen before. The climate has changed and the temperature has elevated," she said.

"I've never felt this hot before. Well, at least as a child, I don't remember it being this hot."

For foreign domestic helper Tuti, the day off meant a strategic choice of location.

She spent the day on a footbridge in Mong Kok, drawn by the rooftop that offers shelter from the direct sun.

"It's okay. We enjoy it because in Indonesia, the weather is also hot like this, but in Hong Kong, it is better," she said.

Malaysian tourist Mok said the record heat wouldn't derail his holiday plans. He and his friends planned to shift their activities indoors, but he admitted the humidity caught him off guard.

"It's kind of a new experience for us because in Malaysia, it is usually quite cool, but here, I have to stay hydrated," he said.

"Malaysia even if it is 36 degrees, it is not like this. It is a lot drier there. Here, I have to go inside."

Not everyone seemed fazed though, as one young boy, spotted wearing a long-sleeved sweater in the sweltering conditions, shrugged off the heat with a grin.

He explained that he had chosen the outfit for fashion rather than practicality, and the temperature simply didn't bother him. (Additional reporting by AFP)


Edited by Edmond Fong