Slope Safety Summit discusses ways to enhance Hong Kong Slope Safety System (with photos)

More than 260 leading experts and stakeholders in the field of slope engineering and landslide risk management discussed the challenges and opportunities in further enhancing the Hong Kong Slope Safety System at the Slope Safety Summit today (December 11), jointly held by the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.
 
Established in the 1970s, the Hong Kong Slope Safety System is a comprehensive and effective slope management system developed by the GEO to protect members of the public from landslide hazards. The system comprises several key components including improving slope safety standards, rectifying substandard Government slopes, implementing landslide risk mitigation measures to natural hillsides, maintaining Government man-made slopes and promoting public awareness of slope safety.

Despite its achievements in the past four decades, climate change and slope degradation pose new challenges to the system. The summit today provided a platform for experts and stakeholders to share their valuable experiences and insights which could benefit the enhancement of the city's Slope Safety System.
 
Officiating at the summit's opening ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, applauded all the parties involved for their efforts in putting in place in Hong Kong one of the best slope engineering and landslide risk management systems in the world, which has evolved over the past decades in response to experience, continual improvement initiatives and technological advancement. She also reaffirmed the Government's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of slope safety in Hong Kong to protect people's life and property.
 
Also officiating at the summit opening ceremony were the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong; the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Lam Sai-hung; and the Head of the GEO, Mr Pun Wai-keung.
 
The summit comprises four discussion sessions on landslide risk management, innovations and technological advances, climate change and public efforts in combating landslide risks. Four distinguished speakers were invited to participate in these discussion sessions, namely Professor Norbert Morgenstern of the University of Alberta of Canada; Professor John Burland of the Imperial College London; Dr Suzanne Lacasse of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute; and Professor Dave Petley of the University of Sheffield of the United Kingdom. Dr Lacasse and Professor Petley are serving members of the Slope Safety Technical Review Board of the GEO.
 
Ends/Monday, December 11, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:00

NNNN

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, speaks at the Slope Safety Summit 2017, jointly held by the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers today (December 11). The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Slope Safety Summit 2017 jointly held by the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers today (December 11). Photo shows Mrs Lam (fourth left); the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong (third right); the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Lam Sai-hung (second left); the Head of the GEO, Mr Pun Wai-keung (second right); and other guests at the launch ceremony. The Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) today (December 11) jointly held the Slope Safety Summit. Photo shows the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam (centre), with distinguished guests (from left) the summit's Honorary Chairman, Professor Ken Ho; the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Edwin Tong; The Head of the GEO, Mr Pun Wai-keung; the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Lam Sai-hung; Dr Suzanne Lacasse of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute; the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong; Professor Norbert Morgenstern of the University of Alberta; Professor John Burland of the Imperial College London; Professor Dave Petley of the University of Sheffield; the Director of Buildings, Mr Cheung Tin-cheung; the President of the HKIE, Mr Thomas Chan; and the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Shun Chi-ming, pictured before the opening ceremony. 


Back