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"Professional advice from lawyers or estate surveyors may also be required on the interpretation of the lease documents in respect of maintenance responsibility," he added.
To provide property buyers with information on the responsibility on slope maintenance, the government and the Law Society had issued guidelines to lawyers requesting them to include a provision on slope maintenance in the deed of mutual
covenant.
"Location plans of existing slopes or slopes under construction should be shown on sales brochures of new buildings under the consent scheme, with the responsibility of slope maintenance also clearly spelt out," he said.
Mr Chan said the current condition of the slopes and their maintenance management were other key elements which need to be looked into before buying a flat.
"For private slopes that have been identified to be dangerous or liable to become dangerous, the Buildings Department, on the advice of the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO), has been issuing dangerous hillside orders (DHO) to safeguard the public and to bring private slopes and retaining walls up to the required standard.
"A list of undischarged DHOS is available for public inspection from the Buildings Department.
"Apart from the updated information of the 'Slope Catalogue', GEO also makes available for public inspection a list of public slopes that have been found by its studies to be substandard and have been included in a current works contract under the Landslip Preventive Measure Programme," he said.
Mr Chan also reminded the public of the importance of slope maintenance.
"Lack of maintenance on slopes is one of main causes of landslips and that regular maintenance is essential to slope safety.
"If a slope or retaining wall is not properly maintained, it will deteriorate and a landslip may occur. This would result in injury to persons or damage to property.
"If this happens, suffering and hardship may result and great expenses may be incurred in reinstating the ground or making it safe," said Mr Chan.
Ind