With the rainy season in Hong Kong approaching, various government departments have started taking precautionary measures against natural disasters.  Tasked with management of slope safety, the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) stands ready to deal with landslide threats.  Although landslide incidents with casualties and fatalities have been few and far between in recent years, we should never let down our guard.  This year, the GEO puts special focus on the promotion of slope safety, and hosted the pre-wet season media briefing on slope safety not long ago.  Apart from briefing on the progress of its various landslide risk reduction measures, the GEO also introduced a new TV Announcement in Public Interest on slope safety, so as to convey practical messages on personal protection to the public and remind them to stay vigilant at all times.

Earlier on, I bumped into a GEO colleague responsible for public education on slope safety.  We both agree that in this smartphone era, people select and read whatever news articles that interest or concern them, which makes our publicity and education work increasingly difficult.  We believe that preparing against landslide hazard is such an important message that should be instilled in our younger generation right from an early education stage.  With 40 years of multi-pronged efforts since its establishment in 1977, the GEO has substantially reduced Hong Kong’s landslide risks on man-made slopes by 75 per cent.  I understand that the GEO has been operating a comprehensive slope safety system.  Through the Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme (LPMitP), the checking of new slopes, slope maintenance and repair works, Landslip Warning System and public education strategies, the GEO has been managing the landslide risks in Hong Kong effectively and its work is up to high world-class standards.

Ageing slopes and changing climate

However, just because landslide incidents with casualties and fatalities have been few and far between in recent years, public awareness of landslide risks has inevitably declined.  Some may even think that the days with catastrophic landslides are long gone and landslide is no longer a threat nowadays.  In fact,  continual urbanisation in Hong Kong, deterioration of slope condition with time, and coupled with the increasingly frequent extreme weather events arising from global climate change, the likelihood of frequent and massive landslides has been increasing.  For instance, the Mocoa massive landslide disaster in southwest Colombia earlier this month was the result of flooding and debris flow brought about by heavy downpours under extreme weather conditions.  More than 200 people were killed and many went missing.  Therefore, we must maintain a high level of vigilance and never let down our guard in ensuring slope safety, or the landslide risks may go up.  The Government will continue to allocate resources to this area of work and strive to contain landslide risks within an acceptable and reasonably practicable level.

Assessing risks and enhancing systems

I very much agree with the GEO’s advocacy for staying vigilant and fully support its work.  Apart from the ongoing implementation of the LPMitP to systematically deal with the landslide risks of man-made slopes and natural hillsides under a risk-based priority ranking system, the GEO has also completed the assessment of landslide risks caused by extreme rainfall, upgraded the Landslip Warning System and improved its information system for better emergency responsiveness and mobilisation capability to handle unforeseen and serious landslide incidents more swiftly and effectively.

Public education and regular maintenance

Nonetheless, the Government’s efforts alone are not enough.  Co-operation from members of the public is indispensable.  For example, private owners should arrange regular inspection and maintenance works for their slopes.  In particular, they should clear the drains and complete routine inspections and the necessary repair works before the onset of the wet season.  In addition, as mentioned above, in order to enhance community preparedness and responsiveness to landslides, the GEO introduces a set of Landslide Self-help Tips in its new TV and radio Announcements in Public Interest.  As nature is unpredictable, the Landslide Demon may appear again at any time.  Please remember the following three tips when you feel threatened by landslide risks:

    1) Avoid staying between slopes and structures
    2) Stay in rooms furthest away from slopes or at higher floors
    3) Keep vigilant and follow government emergency instructions

As a last note, I would like to add that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Slope Safety System.  The GEO is organising various public education activities and publicity events to promote the Government’s work on slope safety throughout the years and to arouse public awareness of landslide prevention.  Updates and details of these activities are available on the slope safety website of the GEO.  The safety of our slopes hinges on our joint efforts.  I hope you will continue to support our work and join us in fighting the Landslide Demon.

Link to the TV Announcement in Public Interest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsYEISFt9lM