Hong Kong's office buildings coldest in the world

Study: Hong Kong's office buildings coldest in the world
at 8:44 on May 29, 2005, EST.

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong's office buildings are the coldest in the world due to cranked up air conditioning, according to a study released Sunday.

Most Hong Kong offices keep their temperature at between 21 (70 Fahrenheit) to 22 degrees Celsius (72 Fahrenheit) - with the coldest office measuring 17.6 degrees (64 Fahrenheit) - well below the recommended 25 degrees (77 Fahrenheit), the study by Hong Kong Polytechnic University professor Daniel Chan said.

Mei Ng, director of environmental group Friends of the Earth, which released the study results, urged employers to allow casual wear during the summer so that air conditioners can be turned down.

An upward adjustment of one Celsius degree will reduce electricity consumption by 3 per cent, Ng said in a statement, noting that air conditioners account for 60 per cent of electricity consumption in the summer.

Lawmaker Choy So-yuk was quoted as saying in the statement that she has on occasions left legislative meetings to get more clothing because the building was too cold.