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Lowland Highland

Relief of Heavy rainfall

Hong Kong Hilly relief
p.28-29 Granitic rocks
Natural factors
Landslide Causes Urban development
Human factors
p.38-41 Poor maintenance

Negative effects Engineering works

p.36-37 Regular inspection
Preventive measures Better land use planning
Response Education
Remedial measures Setting up of warning systems
p.44-49

Emergency assistance

Slope rehabilitation
Slope greening
What is the relief of Hong Kong?
 Highlands
Hilly relief Mainly
Both sides
Lowlands
in the central Harbour
of Victoria
Northwestern
and
and northern
eastern
and new New Territories
towns:
New Territories:
Two-third of the areas of Hong→Central
Kong are
Naturalpart hilly
lowlands
of + Island
Lantau
→ Naturalland
man-made lowlands
by reclamation
Natural lowlands are scarce
Can you name the two highest peaks of Hong Kong?
What is a landslide?
Landslide
Downslope movement of a large amount of soil and rocks
at a fast speed due to the pull of gravity

Gravity
How does landslide affect
Hong Kong?
Impacts
Deaths and injuries
Block roads
→ Interrupt transport
Damage buildings and vehicles
→ Economic loss
The road is blocked by the
falling soil and rock debris
 Landslides have caused more deaths in the early years

Shau
Po Shan
MauRoad
Ping Landslide
Landslideinin 1972
1972
The two most fatal
landslides occurred in 1972
The original squatter
area was buried in mud

A 12-storey building
collapsed
Why do landslides occur in
Hong Kong?
Slope stability
Earth materials
Gravitational force on slope are subject to the shear stress
When
and thetheshear
shearstrength
stress is greater than the shear strength,
Tends
earthtomaterials
pull earthon a slope become unstable
materials down the slope
Cohesion and friction
Shear stress Hold slope materials together
Keep the slope stable

Shear strength

Slope
 ➊ Natural factors
The downpour on 7th June 2008 had triggered
many landslides over different parts of Hong Kong
a. Heavy rainfall
Landslides are concentrated in
areasRainwater
with rainfall fills
Rainwater >200 spaces
mm the
increases between
weight soil particles
of earth materials
Friction
→ and cohesion
Increases shear hold
stress Friction and cohesion
soil particles tightly together decrease

Normal condition After heavy rainfall

Pores between
soil particles are
Soil filled with water
particles
➊ Natural factors
b. Hilly relief
The steeper
60% the slope,
of the slopes the larger
in Hong Kong isthe shear stress
>20°
Increases the risks of landslides

Shear stress
Shear stress

Slope Slope

Steepness of natural slopes in Hong Kong

➊ Natural factors
c. Granitic rocks
The rock is broken down
Granite: seeps
Rainwater the main type of rocks ininto
into joints Hong Kong
a thick layer of loose
weathered materials
Joints easily
May slide downslope
Well-jointed structure during heavy rainfall
Easily weathered under hot
and wet climate
 ➋ Human factors
a. Urban development
Poorly designed
Natural slopes are
man-made
cut or filled
slopes
to create
in early
moreyears
flat land for
urban development
→ increases the risks of landslides

A man-made cut slope Cut slopes

Fill slopes

Bedrock
Soil
➋ Human factors
b. Poor maintenance
Lack of regular maintenance on some man-made slopes
Cracked slope surface and blocked drainage channels
→ Increase rainwater infiltration
→ Increase the risks of landslides

Cracks
Causes of landslides in Hong Kong
Click on the link or the figure below to learn more!
http://e-aristo.hk/r/ig2017_c2_ani005.e
How do we respond to landslides?
Preventive
Provide
Trap rockphysical
Prevent water measures
support
debrisinfiltration
from to steep
falling
into
Drain excess water by building:
down slopes
the slopes by building:
the slopes
by:
by building:
➊ Engineering works
Soil nails
Carried out by the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO)
Surface
channels
Rigid
barriers
Flexible
barriers
Covering theRetaining
Weepholes slopes with concrete
walls
Preventive measures
➋ Regular inspection and maintenance
Most of the man-made slopes: checked and maintained
by the government
Dangerous private slopes: owners are requested to
carry out slope maintenance works

Regular maintenance is needed

to ensure slope safety
Preventive measures
➌ Better land use planning
Landslide risk assessment
Careful planning on the usefor
of housing
slopes projects near
dangerous
→ slopes
reduce the risks of landslides
→ reduce potential damage
Clearance of squatters on hillsides
→ reduce the potential damages caused by landslides
After the assessment,
recreational land use is the
preferred option for areas near
the steep man-made slope
Preventive measures
➍ Education
Raise public awareness about slope safety
Through holding exhibitions, advertising on TV
commercials
Slope safety seminars
Slope information is available onpublic
for the “Hong Kong Slope
Safety” website:
Preventive measures
➎ Setting up of warning systems
Remind pedestrians and
drivers of slopes with high
A Landslip
risks Warning will be issued
of landslides
when there is heavy rainfall and
high risks of landslides
A warning
Advise people sign posted
to stay away from
on a dangerous slope
dangerous slopes
Remedial measures
➊ Emergency assistance
Workers are clearing
Send rescue teams
fallen slope materials
Provide temporary shelters

Remove rock debris on roads to

restore traffic services
Remedial measures
➋ Slope rehabilitation
Carry out suitable engineering work
→ provide better physical support

→ improve drainage of the slopes

The slope in Shum Wan was
rehabilitated after the hazard
Remedial measures
➌ Slope greening
Reduce the visual impacts of engineering works
Preserve existing vegetation on the rehabilitated slopes

Green terraces at a collapsed

slope in Wan Chai
Landslide in Gansu
 Landslide in Gansu
Click on the link or the figure below to learn more!
http://e-aristo.hk/r/ig2017_c2_ani006.e