ENG-2003 — Page 284

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

236

With the availability of the Slope Maintenance Responsibility Information System on the Internet, members of the public can have ready access to information on slopes under their responsibility. Other slope-related information is also available in the Slope Information System. A bilingual version of the system has been uploaded to the Internet at the CED's Hong Kong Slope Safety website. The website has become an important source of reference for the public in obtaining slope-related information. The Catalogue of Slopes has been made even more comprehensive. The department has done this by systematically examining the latest topographic plans and using aerial photograph interpretation techniques in order to identify and register slopes which meet the registration criteria but have not been included in the catalogue. The number of registered slopes in the catalogue has subsequently increased from 54 000 to 57 000.

In sustaining public awareness of slope safety, the department promotes and disseminates slope safety and slope maintenance messages to the public, and organises slope safety talks at schools and roving exhibitions in the community. In addition, a major exhibition will be held in the Central Library in April 2004 to show the history of landslide disasters in Hong Kong. A pamphlet on Maintenance of Buried Services Affecting Slopes is being prepared to remind slope owners to inspect and maintain underground water-carrying services. As part of efforts to improve the living environment, an open competition for the 'Best Landscaped Slope' was launched in June to encourage slope owners to maintain and beautify their slopes. The response was excellent.

The department's Community Advisory Unit provides useful advice to private slope owners to help them maintain and improve the condition and appearance of their slopes. In order to assist private slope owners to discharge their slope maintenance responsibility, a simple guide to 'Dangerous Hillside Orders' has been published to provide a step by step approach to undertaking the requirements of a Dangerous Hillside Order (an order issued under the Buildings Ordinance) promptly and effectively.

The Slope Maintenance Audit Section helps maintenance departments to improve their performance in discharging their slope maintenance responsibilities. Audits of government slope works indicate a continuous improvement in the overall state of maintenance.

The department maintains a 24-hour year-round emergency service to provide geotechnical advice to government departments on actions to be taken to protect the public against landslide danger. The computerised information system and telecommunication facilities have been upgraded to enhance efficiency in handling landslide information and emergency calls.

The department conducts various studies to improve the knowledge and methodology of dealing with natural terrain landslide hazards. It has developed techniques in dating natural terrain landslides, assessing the mobility of landslide debris and applying Geographic Information System technology to hazard studies. Natural terrain hazard mitigation works are being arranged for five sites in developed areas, while studies are being carried out in respect of four other sites.

During the year, the department continued to produce geotechnical guidance documents to disseminate new technological development findings and improved design and construction practice. In particular, the third edition of the Guide to Slope Maintenance and a revised Layman's Guide to Slope Maintenance were published.