ENG-2008 — Page 287

Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation | 227

Slope Safety

The Civil Engineering and Development Department manages a comprehensive Slope Safety System, which has brought about a substantial improvement in the safety of slopes. This has been achieved by improving safety standards and technology, ensuring the safety of new slopes, improving the safety of existing slopes, and providing public warnings, information, education and community advisory services on slope safety.

Under the continuing Landslip Preventive Measures (LPM) Programme, about $1 billion was spent in 2008 to improve the safety of slopes. Upgrading works were completed on 310 substandard government man-made slopes, all of which were landscaped to blend in with their surroundings. Safety screening studies were completed on 300 private man-made slopes.

A long-term Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme was launched. This programme will deal with the landslide risk remaining after completion of the current phase of the LPM Programme in 2010. It will do this through the upgrading of man-made slopes and systematic mitigation of risk from natural hillside catchments that have a known history of landslides and are close to existing buildings and important transport corridors.

The department also inspects substandard slopes to see if they are liable to collapse during rainfall. It recommends the clearance of squatter structures built on or adjacent to slopes that are unsafe and advises people living in those structures to move to safe shelters during heavy rain. In 2008, it inspected 20 sub-standard man- made slopes and recommended clearance of affected squatter dwellings.

The department carries out a wide range of activities to advise the community on slope safety. In 2008, more than 20 technical guidance documents in the form of publications, guidance notes and study reports were produced.

In collaboration with the Hong Kong Red Cross, a one-year programme entitled 'Slope and Home Safety' was organised in 2008-09. The objectives of the programme were to provide information and enhance the vigilance of villagers with respect to slope and home safety, thereby reducing potential dangers in their living environment. The programme consisted of many community educational activities and also regular home visits to the village elderly.

To support the forthcoming New Senior Secondary curriculum, the department produced educational materials, including 14 booklets, posters, promotional materials etc. on various topics in relation to the geology and landslides in Hong Kong, to enhance the understanding of local teachers and students on slope safety issues.

Water Supplies

Water from Guangdong

Hong Kong began receiving raw water from the Shenzhen Reservoir in Guangdong in 1960 under a scheme that provides it with 22.7 million cubic metres