Landslide risk management in Hong Kong

The combination of dense urban development, hilly terrain, and intense seasonal rainfall has caused acute landslide problems in Hong Kong, which are manifested by a death toll of over 470 people since the late 1940s. Tackling landslide problems in an urban setting, in particular under the effect of climate change, calls for a development and implementation of a holistic risk management strategy. It entails the use of engineering and non-engineering approaches, involving policy, legislative, administrative, innovation, technical, educational, community-based, and emergency-preparedness provisions. In this paper, these two approaches are showcased by the slope safety system that has been developed and promulgated in managing landslide risk for building Hong Kong as a world-class smart city.

Automated summary

The combination of dense urban development, hilly terrain, and intense seasonal rainfall has led to severe landslide problems in Hong Kong, resulting in a need for a comprehensive risk management strategy. This strategy involves engineering and non-engineering approaches, encompassing policy, legislative, innovation, technology, education, and other measures. Implementing these methods, such as the slope safety system, can effectively manage landslide risks and aim to build Hong Kong as a world-class smart city.