XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 89

REPLY:

73

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

MR PRESIDENT,

(A)

MANY OF THE SLOPES ALONG HIGHWAYS ARE INCLUDED IN THE CATALOGUE PREPARED BY GEO IN 1977/78. THESE SLOPES, LIKE OTHER SLOPES IN THE CATALOGUE, ARE INSPECTED BY GOVERNMENT TO ASCERTAIN THEIR STABILITY, IN ORDER OF THEIR PRIORITY RANKING, A RANKING WHICH HAS BEEN ASSESSED BASED ON THE STABILITY CONDITIONS AS WELL AS THE FAILURE CONSEQUENCES OF THE SLOPE. IN ADDITION TO THE STABILITY INSPECTIONS, MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS, SUCH AS AT CASTLE PEAK ROAD, ARE ALSO CARRIED OUT FOR SLOPES ALONG HIGHWAYS. THIS IS DONE BY HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL AT TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL LEVEL, AND AT FREQUENCIES SPECIFIED BY THE THESE

GEOTECHNICAL

+

ENGINEERING OFFICE (GEO).

INSPECTIONS ARE PART OF HYD'S COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE SYSTEM, A SYSTEM WHICH HELPS TO PREVENT DETERIORATION OF THE SLOPES, AND THUS TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF LANDSLIPS. THESE INSPECTIONS TAKE PLACE BEFORE AND AFTER ANY NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE UPGRADING WORKS CARRIED OUT UNDER THE LONG TERM LANDSLIP PREVENTIVE MEASURES PROGRAMME OPERATED BY GEO.

(B)

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS SERVE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SLOPE FAILURE. GEO HAS ALSO INITIATED A MAJOR STUDY TO RE-CATALOGUE ALL SLOPES IN THE TERRITORY AND THIS EXERCISE, WHEN COMPLETED BY MID 1997, WILL COVER. ALL SLOPES OF MAJOR CONCERN, INCLUDING THOSE ALONG HIGHWAYS WHICH ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT CATALOGUE. STABILITY INSPECTIONS WILL BE EXTENDED TO ALL SLOPES UNDER THE NEW CATALOGUE, TO DETERMINE WHAT, IF ANYTHING, NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF SLOPE FAILURE.

0

PROVISION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES

LEUNG,

FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON TIK CHI-YUEN AND A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR MICHAEL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

QUESTION: WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL OF THE ESTIMATED PROVISION AND DEMAND IN RESPECT OF FORM 1 AND FORM 4 PLACES IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS OF THE TERRITORY FOR THE COMING YEAR ?

REPLY:

/MR PRESIDENT