Hong Kong  - Hong Kong has recorded its hottest August in more than 30 years with the temperature climbing above 33 degrees Celsius for 10 days so far this month, the Observatory said Friday.

As of Thursday, the former British colony had endured 10 days classified by meteorologists as "very hot," equalling the number of "very hot" days in August 1974.

Only one August has proved hotter since records began in 1885 and that was in 1962 when there were 15 very hot days.

The Observatory, Hong Kong's official weather authority, warned that more very hot days would follow as the month came to a close as a weak ridge of high pressure continued to hover over Hong Kong and southern China.

The average temperatures for the month so far has been around 29.3 degrees, 0.9 degrees above normal, while the rainfall at 331.2 millimetres has been 113.4 millimetres below the usual August average.

On Thursday, around 75 elderly people suffering as a result of the heat were admitted to hospital, a report in the South China Morning Post said.

Three construction workers have died since July as a result of heatstroke, prompting calls from trade unions for mandatory breaks for workers in hot weather.

The heat wave is also bringing problems to southern China causing droughts affecting drinking water supplies in Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou and Hubei. (dpa)