Risk management and slope safety in Hong Kong

Abstract

Hong Kong's landslip problem is described in the context of post-war urban development and the progressive introduction of a safety regime since the 1970s. The safety regime acts both to reduce landslip risk and to address public attitudes to landslip risk. The components of the safety regime are explained and its impact is assessed. Evidence is presented showing prima facie that landslip risk has been significantly reduced by the safety regime in a cost-effective manner. The safety regime is analysed using the risk management approach, which provides pointers for its further development. The need is indicated for measurement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the individual component actions of the safety regime through quantified risk analysis and cost/benefit analysis. Preliminary work has been carried out on the use of quantified risk analysis in this application and the results are promising.