LCQ20: Landslip preventive measures programme

Following is a question by the Hon Alan Leong and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, in the Legislative Council today (February 15):

Question:

Under the Landslip Preventive Measures Programme (LPMP), 3,100 government slopes have been stabilised, and safety-screening studies have been conducted on 3,300 private slopes, and under the Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme (LPMitP), 15,000 man-made slopes of moderate risk will be dealt with.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the number of footpaths at the top or bottom of the slopes which have been stabilised under LPMP; whether such works involved repairs of the footpaths connected to the slopes or provision of new footpaths; if so, of the number, together with a table listing the details of the works; if not, the reasons for that;

(b) of the number of footpaths at the top or bottom of the slopes that have been stabilised or are being stabilised under LPMitP; whether such works involved repairs of footpaths connected to the slopes or provision of new footpaths; if so, of the number, together with a table listing the details of the works; if not, the reasons for that; and

(c) whether the authorities have assessed if it is the most cost-effective approach and convenient for pedestrians to carry out slope stabilisation works under the two aforesaid programmes in tandem with the improvement works for the footpaths connected to the slopes; if they have assessed, of the results?

Reply:

President,

The 10-year Extended Landslip Preventive Measures Project (Extended LPMP), which dealt with all known high-risk man-made slopes affecting major roads and developments, was completed in 2010.  To dovetail with the Extended LPMP, the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department is carrying out the Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme (LPMitP) to deal with those potentially problematic man-made slopes of moderate risk and to carry out mitigation works for natural slopes.  The slope stabilisation works are prioritised according to the landslide risk of individual slopes.  The slopes that are at higher risk would be selected for stabilisation works first.  As for the construction and repair of footpaths, concerned departments will carry out the works according to need and their renovation plans.  It may not be necessary for the two types of works to be carried out at the same time.

My reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:

(a) and (b) Of the 3,100 man-made slopes stabilised under the Extended LPMP and the 310 slopes that have been or are being stabilised under the LPMitP, about 1,550 are located on roadside.  Most of them have footpaths at their top or bottom.  Upon completion of the slope stabilisation works, we would reinstate all sections of footpaths affected by such works.  However, the primary objective of the two slope stabilisation programme/project is to deal with risks of slopes and does not involve improvement works for footpaths connected to the slopes.  In fact, it may not be necessary for all slopes to have connecting footpaths.

(c) In general, it is the policy of the Government to integrate road widening works with stabilisation works for adjacent slopes as far as possible, with a view to optimising the use of resources and minimising inconvenience caused to the public.  However, for improvement works of roads adjacent to slopes (including provision of footpaths or improvement of existing facilities), we need to consider technical feasibility, slope safety, as well as other factors such as the environmental impact (e.g. the number of trees to be felled), traffic impact and cost effectiveness.  The various departments concerned (including Civil Engineering and Development Department, Highways Department, Transport Department, etc.) will conduct extensive reviews and appropriate consultation for each slope stabilisation project before mapping out the designs and scope of the works.

Ends/Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Issued at HKT 13:22

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