Report No. : GEO Report No. 349

Report Title : Factual Report on Hong Kong Rainfall and Landslides in 2019 (2022), 61 p.

Author : V.S.F. Kong, R.C.T. Wai & E.K.H. Chu

Abstract

This report presents a summary of the factual information on rainfall and landslides in Hong Kong throughout 2019. Rainfall information was obtained from the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) to supplement the information available in the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO). Details of the landslides were obtained from records of landslide incidents reported to the GEO. Supplementary information was collected from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Architectural Services Department, Drainage Services Department, Highways Department, Housing Department, Lands Department, Water Supplies Department, and the GEO's landslide investigation consultants, namely Fugro (Hong Kong) Limited and AECOM Asia Company Limited.

Rainfall recorded in 2019 at the HKO's Principal Raingauge at Tsim Sha Tsui amounted to 2396.2 mm, near the mean annual rainfall of 2398.5 mm recorded between 1981 and 2010. No Black Rainstorm Warning was issued in 2019. Three Red Rainstorm Warnings and 37 Amber Rainstorm Warnings were issued between 20 April and 26 August 2019, and between 19 February and 14 October 2019 respectively.

Two Landslip Warnings were issued between 31 July and 2 August and on 26 August 2019. A total of 157 incidents were reported to the Government in 2019. Of these, 131 were classified as genuine landslides and one of them was designated as major failure (i.e. with a failure volume of 50 m³ or more, or where a fatality has occurred).

There were ten landslides in 2019 with notable consequences. Of these landslides, one led to damage of the windows of a squatter dwelling, one resulted in damage of a storage structure and one resulted in partial collapse of a brick wall of a residential building. The remaining seven landslides resulted in temporary closure of roads. Other landslides in 2019 primarily affected footpaths or minor access roads, catchwaters, open areas and a construction site without any significant direct or indirect consequence. No fatality was reported as a result of the landslides.

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