(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Civil Engineering & Development Department’s Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) today announced that there were 601 reports of landslides last year, with no related injuries or deaths.

The figure was higher than the 76 cases reported in 2022 and the average of about 300 cases per year over the past 35 years.

In a media briefing on slope safety this afternoon, Geotechnical Engineering Office (Island) Deputy Head Lawrence Shum said 181 reports of landslides came as a result of the record-breaking heavy rains in September last year.

To prepare for future extreme weather incidents, he added, the Government plans to introduce landslip mitigation measures on more hillsides and will study how to control overflows to reduce the risk of landslides.

This includes focusing on slopes where sole access may be blocked. Mr Shum highlighted that the GEO has identified 500 slopes with adjacent sole access routes used by a considerable number of residents.

Special inspections and maintenance works are expected to be completed by the end of this month, in advance of the wet season.

To enhance early warning and information dissemination, the GEO and the Observatory will issue a new special landslip advisory listing areas at higher risk of landslides during heavy rains.