Report No. : GEO Report No. 237

Report Title : Review of Landslides in 2006 (2008), 42 p.

Author : S.M. Tam & T.M.F. Lau

Abstract

This report presents the findings of a diagnostic review of the landslides in 2006 that were reported to the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department. The review forms part of the GEO's systematic landslide investigation programme, which was introduced following the 23 July 1994 Kwun Lung Lau landslide. The aims of this report are to review the performance of the Government's slope safety system and identify areas for improvement in order to further enhance the slope engineering practice in Hong Kong.

Altogether 193 genuine landslides were reported to the Government in 2006. All the available landslide data were examined and seven landslide incidents were selected for follow-up studies under the systematic landslide investigation programme. These studies provided information and insight into the types and mechanisms of slope failures, and facilitated the identification of areas deserving attention and improvement.

Based on the landslide data in 2006, no major landslide (viz. failure volume of 50 m³ or more) occurred on engineered man-made slopes that have been accepted under the slope safety system. In terms of minor landslides (viz. failure volume less than 50 m³) on engineered man-made slopes, the annual failure rate is about 0.05% on a slope number basis.

Overall, about 99.95% of the engineered man-made slopes performed satisfactorily without occurrence of landslides in 2006.

Recommendations for further improvement of the slope safety system and the slope engineering practice in Hong Kong are given in this report.

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