The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), in cooperation with the Hong Kong Department of Health (DH), will implement a new Ultraviolet (UV) Index classification scheme starting Thursday, according to a government press release.
Hong Kong is to adopt the new scheme introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO), the purpose of which is to provide a harmonized UV Index classification scheme for adoption by authorities and other organizations in reporting the UV Index and in skin cancer prevention work.
The HKO has been providing UV Index advisory service to the public since October 1999, using a UV Index classification scheme made available by the WHO at that time.
The UV index is a measure of the potential harm of UV radiation on human health. The higher the UV Index, the more intense and dangerous the UV radiation. When working or playing in the sun, one should always pay attention to the latest UV Index broadcast by the media and take appropriate precautions against over-exposure.
(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2002)
