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- 37.
Reply:
Mr President,
In addition to undertaking systematic slope inspections and maintenance, the Government is also implementing the recommendations in Professor Morgenstern's Report relating to measurement of masonry wall thickness, to undertake and support research into improved site characterisation and to establish a Technical Review Board.
As regards the recommendation to develop a programme for direct monitoring and repair of buried services, a Working Group on the maintenance of buried services affecting slopes has been formed. An advisory note on the inspection and maintenance of buried drainage and water-carrying services and a practice note for Authorised Persons and Registered Structural Engineers on constructing new private water-carrying services in such a manner to avoid danger to slopes have been prepared and are being distributed to owners corporations, mutual aid committees, authorised persons and registered structural Engineers. In addition all Departments with responsibility for underground services which are adjacent to slopes have arranged inspection programmes.
The recommendation to adopt a more integrated approach into slope stability process is being taken forward.
Works Branch has also completed an extensive review of the slope safety programme with a view to further lessening the risk of landslides threatening public safety. The Review looked in detail at the current legislation, policy and resources on slope safety activities, and complements the earlier recommendations in Professor Morganstern's report.
The report contains the following main recommendations which are being implemented:
(a)
The current Landslip Preventive Measures (LPM) programme, which involves the inspection and, where necessary, upgrading of 10,000 man- made slopes listed in the 1977-78 catalogue of the Geotechnical Engineering Office, is being accelerated by 10 years for substantial completion by 2000.
(b) The LPM programme is being extended to cover certain slopes which have previously been classified as "low consequence", such as those close to busy roads and footpaths.
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