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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(12) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
What is the cause of the major landslide at the Kwun Tong Resettlement Estate during Typhoon "Ida"? In view of the rapid development of more resettlement estates what step is being taken to prevent such a disaster happening again?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:
The cause of the major landslide at Kwun Tong was the rains of Typhoon "Ida" which occurred on the 8th and 9th of August and the rains which fell on the following week-end, that is on the 15th and 16th of August. The amounts of rain on these two occasions were not large when compared with the rains of Typhoon "Viola" and it will be remembered that "Viola" and the heavy rains of early June caused little damage at Kwun Tong. However, the concentrations of rain in these two later storms were much heavier and the Royal Observatory records show intensities of 9 inches per hour during Typhoon 'Ida' and 8 inches per hour during the storm of the following week-end. It is suspected that the rains at Kwun Tong were heavier still.
With rains of this intensity it is difficult enough to prevent landslides occurring on large-scale site formation projects even when the work has been completed and permanent concrete lined drainage channels installed. This is especially true in Hong Kong where ground conditions are so treacherous as is amply illustrated by the number of landslides which occur after prolonged and intense rain. In the middle of a contract, however, when a hill is only half cut down and a valley only half filled, the problem is very difficult. Drainage channels consist of ditches cut in the ground and of bunds on the fill materials. As work proceeds, new channels have to be provided and it is virtually impossible to guarantee that this operation will be 100% effective during all phases of the programme against the worst rain which can occur. I can assure Dr. LEE that all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent land slips during construction and this will continue in the future. He will, however, appreciate that there is no way of guaranteeing that no landslide will occur as this threat is present on any steep hillside during the heavy rains I have described.
DR. LEE:- Mr. Chairman, what assistance has been given to the shopkeepers in Kwun Tong after the landslide?
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COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- May I answer that, Mr. Chairman? The shopkeepers particularly in Block "K", suffered. At the eastern end of the block the mud was 6 feet deep, but at the western end it was less, and they have received assistance in clearing it up. A number of the shops have applied for compensation from Government and I have forwarded their applications to the Colonial Secretariat for consideration. As far as I know, all the shops in Block "K" are back in operation. I am not aware that any other shops, apart from those in Block "K", suffered any serious damage.
DR. LEE:- Mr. Chairman, shop No. 49 of Block "K" has suffered very severely and the owner has written to me saying that he required something to the tune of $10,000 to start again, because of the damage sustained to his provisions and rice which were stored in the shop at the time. I wonder whether that could be referred to Government for attention and consideration?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I am not aware that any such complaint has been received from that particular shop, but if you could let me have details I would be very glad to look into it, Sir.
DR. LEE:- I have drafted a letter to you, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, could the Commissioner say whether the Holy Spirit School will be opening in the next few days?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I understand that the school will be using the classrooms in the western part of Block "U" at the beginning of the term, as planned, although they will probably lack some re-decoration at that stage. How soon they will be able to use the rooms in the eastern part of the block, I am not quite sure.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- In a letter which was addressed to Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in and myself, the Commissioner stated that the Education Department had promised to look into ways and means of helping the school. We should be grateful if you would look into this further.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Yes, Sir.
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN asked the following three questions:- (13) The projected signs of shops in our busy streets, vying with each other in size and for prominence, affect the general appearance of our city and constitute a threat to life and limb in a typhoon. There is an apparent need for stricter control. Under Section 104 (1) of the Public Health and
Page 133 of 312
of 312
Page 133 of 312
242
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(12) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
What is the cause of the major landslide at the Kwun Tong Resettlement Estate during Typhoon "Ida"? In view of the rapid development of more resettlement estates what step is being taken to prevent such a disaster happening again?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:
The cause of the major landslide at Kwun Tong was the rains of Typhoon "Ida” which occurred on the 8th and 9th of August and the rains which fell on the following week- end, that is on the 15th and 16th of August. The amounts of rain on these two occasions were not large when compared with the rains of Typhoon "Viola” and it will be remembered that "Viola" and the heavy rains of early June caused little damage at Kwun Tong. How- ever, the concentrations of rain in these two later storms were much heavier and the Royal Observatory records show intensities of 9 inches per hour during Typhoon 'Ida' and 8 inches per hour during the storm of the following week-end. It is suspected that the rains at Kwun Tong were heavier still.
With rains of this intensity it is difficult enough to prevent landslides occurring on large-scale site formation projects even when the work has been completed and permanent concrete lined drainage channels installed. This is especially true in Hong Kong where ground conditions are so treacherous as is amply illustrated by the number of landslides which occur after prolonged and intense rain. In the middle of a contract, however, when a hill is only half cut down and a valley only half filled, the problem is very difficult. Drainage channels consist of ditches cut in the ground and of bunds on the fill materials. As work proceeds, new channels have to be provided and it is virtually impossible to guarantee that this operation will be 100% effective during all phases of the programme against the worst rain which can occur. I can assure Dr. LEE that all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent land slips during construction and this will continue in the future. He will, however, appreciate that there is no way of guaranteeing that no landslide will occur as this threat is present on any steep hillside during the heavy rains I have described.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, what assistance has been given to the shopkeepers in Kwun Tong after the landslide?
"
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COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-May I answer that, Mr. Chairman? The shopkeepers particularly in Block "K", suffered. At the eastern end of the block the mud was 6 feet deep, but at the western end it was less, and they have received assistance in clearing it up. A number of the shops have applied for compensation from Government and I have forwarded their applications to the Colonial Secretariat for consideration. As far as I know, all the shops in Block "K" are back in operation. I am not aware that any other shops, apart from those in Block "K", suffered any serious damage.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, shop No. 49 of Block "K" has suffered very severely and the owner has written to me saying that he required something to the tune of $10,000 to start again, because of the damage sustained to his provisions and rice which were stored in the shop at the time. I wonder whether that could be referred to Government for attention and consideration?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:—I am not aware that any such complaint has been received from that particular shop, but if you could let me have details I would be very glad to look into it, Sir.
DR. LEE:--I have drafted a letter to you, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could the Commissioner say whether the Holy Spirit School will be opening in the next few days?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I understand that the school will be using the classrooms in the western part of Block "U" at the beginning of the term, as planned, although they will probably lack some re-decoration at that stage. How soon they will be able to use the rooms in the eastern part of the block, I am not quite sure.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In a letter which was addressed to Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in and myself, the Commissioner stated that the Educa- tion Department had promised to look into ways and means of helping the school. We should be grateful if you would look into this further.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -Yes, Sir.
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN asked the following three questions:- (13) The projected signs of shops in our busy streets, vying with each other in size and for prominence, affect the general appearance of our city and constitute a threat to life and limb in a typhoon. There is an apparent need for stricter control. Under Section 104 (1) of the Public Health and
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