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Being a hilly city with a large population, Hong Kong has a substantial portion of its dense urban development on or near to steep hillsides. Coupled with the torrential summer rainfall, the challenges that Hong Kong is facing with regard to slope safety, particularly the safety of nearby residents, are unique.

Since 1995, more resources have been allocated to the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) for carrying out studies and upgrading works on substandard slopes under the five-year Accelerated Landslip Preventive Measures (LPM) Programme.

To step up its efforts to meet such challenges, the GEO will extend its LPM Programme for 10 more years from this year.

For the old man-made slopes which were designed and constructed before the GEO was established in 1977, the Government will spend a sum of $925 million this financial year for upgrading 250 old government slopes and conducting safety screening for 300 old private slopes.

Head of the GEO, Mr Chan Kin-sek, said, "We aim to complete the upgrading works for another 2,500 government slopes and to complete the detailed studies for another 3,000 private slopes by 2010." Together with other risk reduction measures, this will further reduce the overall level of landslide risk.

Mr Chan noted that special studies have been carried out by the GEO since 1982 to identify squatter structures which are especially vulnerable to landslip danger. Once such structures are identified, it is Government policy to offer rehousing to the affected squatters. This is because works normally cannot be carried out without first demolishing the squatter structures to provide vehicular access and working space.

Another of GEO's major functions in policing slope safety is to check the design of all new slopes to ensure they meet current safety standards. This is essential to keep the size of the problem of substandard man-made slopes from growing.

"We also undertake applied research and development work on geotechnical engineering, including projects related to the acceleration of the LPM Programme, landslip risk management, and advancement of knowledge to improve slope design and construction practice," Mr Chan said.

However, the slope safety problem cannot be solved by the GEO alone. All man-made slopes need to be maintained. Seven other government departments have been conducting regular maintenance works on those of the 37,000 government slopes under their jurisdictions.

Maintenance of private slopes, another key area of concern, is as important. "We always consider that voluntary compliance with slope maintenance requirements by private owners is the best way to improve the safety of their slopes," Mr Chan said.

Routine maintenance inspections should be carried out by property management staff or maintenance staff at least once every year, preferably before the onset of the wet season in April. It is also good practice to inspect the drainage channels and clear any blockage after a heavy rainstorm.

"As maintaining the safety of private slopes is not an easy task, we have set up a Community Advisory Unit in April last year to assist private owners to fulfill their responsibility," he said.

The Community Advisory Unit has initiated contacts with owners' corporations, mutual aid committees and private owners to advise them how to proceed with the necessary slope maintenance/upgrading works. Thousands of people have participated in the seminars, meet-the-public sessions and exhibitions on slope safety and maintenance held by the Unit so far.

Measures have been taken to address the concerns raised by some slope owners on the lack of understanding of slope safety standards and unclear maintenance responsibility.

In an effort to enhance public understanding of slope safety, an updated version of the "Layman's Guide on Slope Maintenance" has been published in December last year for free distribution to the public through the Home Affairs Department's District Offices.

If the public want to get quick advice about slope maintenance, they can always call the Slope Safety Hotline on 2885 5888, or contact the Community Advisory Unit on 2760 5800.

Responding to some slope owners' expression of difficulties in identifying maintenance responsibilities, Mr Chan suggested that they check the Slope Maintenance Responsibility Register kept at the Lands Department's information centre on the first floor of the North Point Government Office.

Members of the public can also have quick access to the technical data, maps and photographs of the 54,000 registered man-made slopes through the Hong Kong Slope Safety Website at http://hkss.ced.gov.hk/. The Chinese language version of the Website was launched in March this year.

End/Saturday, July 29, 2000

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