ENG-2006 — Page 284

236 | Land, Public Works and Utilities

continues to carry out a wide range of activities to drive home the slope safety message to the community. These include broadcasting messages on television and radio, distributing promotional materials, organising roadshows, holding public seminars, and giving school talks and training courses.

Major activities in 2006 included slogan and bookmark design contests which. attracted more than 3 300 entries from primary and secondary schools, a one-month exhibition at Hong Kong Science Museum and four rescue drills performed by the Hong Kong Red Cross, Auxiliary Medical Service, Civil Aid Service and Fire Services Department.

As a participant in the ongoing programme Science in the Public Service Advancing Science, Advancing Service, the department promoted slope safety messages throughout 2006, with emphasis on the scientific aspect of slope engineering.

The department's Community Advisory Unit (CAU) continues to give advice to private slope owners on keeping their slopes tidy and in good condition. The CAU plays an active part in getting the message to the public on slope safety. It joins the Hong Kong Red Cross in visits to villages in the New Territories to stress the need to keep slopes safe. The department also audits the maintenance work done on slopes by other government departments.

It maintains a 24-hour, year-round emergency service to provide geotechnical advice to government departments on action to take in the event of landslides. In 2006, the department's Emergency Control Centre was mobilised four times to deal with the dangers posed by landslides.

The department conducts various studies on natural terrain and on landslide hazards. It has been using remote sensing techniques and the Geographic Information System to assess landslide risks. The department is also improving its Natural Terrain Landslide Inventory by incorporating information obtained from aerial photographs.

The Geotechnical Information Unit in the Civil Engineering Library, which houses the largest collection of geotechnical data in Hong Kong, provided geotechnical information to about 30 000 people in 2006.

The department provides specialist geotechnical services to government departments. These include ad hoc geotechnical advice, feasibility studies, detailed investigations, and design and construction supervision for a wide range of public works projects. Such services were rendered during work on widening Nam Fung Path in Wong Chuk Hang. The department assisted in the preliminary geotechnical assessment and advance site investigation works for Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A; a natural terrain hazard study for a potential land sale site in Sha Tin; engineering designs for drainage improvement in Southern Lantau; and site investigation works for the reconstruction of To Shek Salt Water Service Reservoir and Ma On Shan Salt Water Service Reservoir.