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The Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering Department (CED) today (November 26) awarded a contract under the Landslip Preventive Measures (LPM) Programme for upgrading 24 Government slopes between Mui Wo and Pui O at South Lantau Road.
The contract is a good example of GEO's initiative of integrating slope upgrading works with landscape treatment in its LPM projects.
The Assistant Director (Geotechnical)/LPM, Mr Tang Moon-cheung, said after signing the contract, that the community was becoming more concerned about slope appearance in recent years.
"Therefore, apart from enhancing public safety for old man-made slopes, it is our policy to harmonise upgraded Government slopes with the environment and to make finished slopes look as natural as possible," Mr Tang said.
"We have committed to landscape every slope upgraded under the LPM Programme, and we seek landscape architects' professional advice in the design phase of LPM works," he added.
GEO awarded Halcrow China Limited in April last year to design the upgrading works to the 24 slopes in this contract. The consultant has engaged Urbis Limited as their specialist landscape consultant. They provided advice on ways to soften the visual impact of these slopes in conjunction with the upgrading works.
GEO had held meetings in the early phase of the project with representatives from environmental groups, local communities and the related Government Departments and had taken into account their suggestions in the design of the project.
The project will start in December and is scheduled for completion by November 2003.
"By upgrading and providing landscaping measures to these 24 slopes, the landslide risk to the local community and threat to traffic disruption will be greatly reduced. As the existing hard surface covers will be replaced by vegetation, the environment can also be improved at the same time," Mr Tang said.
There had been landslide incidents on some of these slopes in past years causing disruption to traffic, such as the Lai Chi Yuen landslide occurred in August 1999. The stability condition of these slopes has been studied and found not meeting the current geotechnical standards.
As part of CED's overall environmental policy, attention was also paid to the ecological aspect to improve the ecological environment.
During the early phase of this project, GEO conducted an ecology survey in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance to 12 slopes that fall within the Lantau South and Lantau North Country Parks area.
"In two slopes, species of wild orchids were found, and measures will be taken to protect the orchids during construction," he added.
This project is in line with the pledge in CED's mission statement to fulfil its responsibilities towards the environment in improving slope safety. The contract was awarded to Shun Yuen Construction Co. Limited.
End/Monday, November 26, 2001
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