Geotechnical experts visit HK for Landslide Disaster Management (with photos)

Sixteen world-class geotechnical experts from 10 countries visited the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department on December 13 to learn about how Hong Kong had managed to reduce landslide risk.

Receiving the guests at Civil Engineering and Development Building, Ho Man Tin, the head of the Geotechnical Engineering Office, Mr Raymond Chan, said, "Due to the geographical environment and the dense urban development near the hillside, Hong Kong is particularly prone to landslides.  Through a comprehensive slope safety management system, we are able to reduce the landslide risk to a reasonably low level.

"The Hong Kong Slope Safety Management System, which was initiated in 1977, has reached an international standard and is effective in providing landslide alert."

The experts were introduced to a computerised Slope Information System, which was one of the largest slope information databases in the world, containing pertinent information on 57,000 man-made slopes.

They were later taken to a Landslip Preventive Measures works site at Sai Wan Estate and a drainage tunnelling works site at Po Shan Road to learn more about the department's efforts in upgrading substandard man-made slopes and mitigating natural terrain landslide risk.  

Seventy geotechnical experts attended the "2007 International Forum on Landslide Disaster Management" held between December 10 and 12 in Hong Kong.  The forum marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Geotechnical Engineering Office and the Hong Kong Slope Safety System.  It was jointly organised by the Geotechnical Engineering Office, the Geotechnical Division of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Hong Kong Geotechnical Society.

Participants from Austria, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Mainland, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United States of America and the United Kingdom shared their experiences in landslide disaster management during the forum.

Ends/Friday, December 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:52

Sixteen world-class geotechnical experts from 10 countries visited the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department on December 13. The experts then visited a Landslip Preventive Measures works site at Sai Wan Estate to see the department's efforts in upgrading substandard man-made slopes. The experts visiting a drainage tunnelling works site at Po Shan Road to learn more about the department's efforts in mitigating natural terrain landslide risk.

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