Up to 60 per cent of the landslides that occur on Hong Kong's private slopes every year are related to poor maintenance, authorities have found, urging owners to take action amid the impact of climate change.
Government experts said slopes would be vulnerable to more intense weather.
"With more extreme weather expected in the future, there might be more concentrated rainfall during rainy seasons, which will require higher drainage capacity for slopes," said Lawrence Shum Ka-wah, deputy head of the Geotechnical Engineering Office on Hong Kong Island.
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He mentioned that drainage systems can handle obstructions caused by leaves or twigs, however, severe weather conditions may exceed their capacity.
On average, about 10 to 20 landslides took place annually on privately owned slopes over the last ten years, according to Shum, referencing a departmental assessment.
Typically, around 30 to 60 percent of these issues stemmed from inadequate maintenance by property owners.
He stated that the areas affected by landslides were influenced by the pattern of rainfall, noting that no particular district needed extra focus. However, he emphasized that upkeep would be the primary issue to address.
Shum stated that authorities reported over 50 landslides on private slopes in 2023, during the year when a "once-in-500-years storm" hit the city. Of these landslides, 30 percent resulted from inadequate maintenance.
The severe weather condition activated the city’s most extended black rainstorm alert, lasting over 16 hours. This transformed roads into waterways and left motorists trapped in their cars, along with inundating malls and train terminals. Over 100 individuals required medical attention at hospitals.
Shum additionally pointed out to the owners that they could be responsible for maintaining adjacent land areas, even though these may not be mentioned in their land lease agreements.
At present, roughly 2,500 artificial slopes situated on government-owned property are being cared for by the private owners of neighboring plots.
Each year, the department chooses 100 individual ski slopes for safety inspections conducted by them.
When individuals are classified as hazardous, the authorities issue a Dangerous Slope Order (DSO) to property owners with problematic slopes. This mandates that they conduct investigations and undertake required preventative measures using certified specialists.
By 2023, 271 DHOs remained unimplemented by private property owners, as stated by Robert Cheng, who serves as the chief building surveyor at the Buildings Department.
He urged the owners to keep their slopes maintained in order to avoid the risk of landslides.
Cheng also mentioned that routine inspections of both the slopes and underground water pipelines were essential.
The administration likewise provides assistance to proprietors encountering monetary challenges, including grants and financing options.
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