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* The scope of the LPM is being enlarged to include slopes affecting busy roads and footpaths. The Government will include 220 public slopes in the 1996-97 and subsequent years' programme for upgrading works. Of these, 69 slopes (30%) are near busy roads and footpaths, accounting for 45% of the cost for this programme.

* Total expenditure will amount to $1.3 billion, increasing rapidly from $70 million a year (in previous years) to the peak of $300 million over the next five years.

* To cope with the additional work, the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) will create 133 posts, of which 48 (36%) will be at the Geotechnical Engineer Grade.

* GEO will increase the use of consultants to undertake slope investigation and upgrading work. Four consultancies have been commissioned so far to undertake investigation on 400 private slopes and to upgrade 95 public slopes. Two more consultancies will be commissioned soon to investigate 200 private slopes and upgrade 80 public slopes.

* The Buildings Department will step up enforcement action on private slope owners who fail to comply with statutory orders for repair of their slopes. The department will create 27 posts to cope with additional work related to the issue of dangerous slope notices and follow-up action.

* Of the 10,840 slopes registered in the 1977-78 Catalogue of Slopes, preliminary studies have been made on 7,383 slopes and upgrading work carried out on 656 public slopes and 374 private slopes.

* GEO is carrying out a slope recataloguing exercise to identify and register

slopes not included in the 1977-78 Catalogue.

* GEO is developing a new priority classification system to select slopes for inclusion in the LPM Programme. The system will include information about slope geometry, topography, evidence of past instability, if there is any, and potential for water ingress.

* The works departments will step up inspection and repair of public drains and supply pipes which may affect stability of slopes. Owners of private lots will be encouraged to do the same for their buried drains and water pipes.

End/Monday, October 16, 1995