The Civil Engineering & Development Department today welcomed the Office of the Ombudsman’s commendation on the department’s efforts in implementing the Landslip Prevention & Mitigation Programme and regulating slope safety. It also accepted the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

The department’s statement came after the Ombudsman issued a report on the direct investigation into the Government’s work on landslide prevention and mitigation and management of government slopes.

In a press release, the department highlighted the notable results of its ongoing prevention and mitigation efforts: the annual average number of incidents decreased by nearly one-third, from about 300 incidents (1989-2014) to approximately 214 incidents (2015-2024).

Responding to the Ombudsman’s concerns about higher landslide rates and repeated incidents on government slopes, the department clarified that these figures stem from the way slopes are categorised by potential impact, which reflects the Government’s risk-management approach.

Government-maintained, man-made slopes are diverse and carry varied risks. They are categorized mainly by the potential for loss of life in a landslide (“relatively high”, “medium” and “relatively low” potential impacts). To ensure public safety, the Government prioritises prevention works on slopes that pose a higher risk.

Government slopes categorized with medium or relatively low potential impact categories may not receive immediate priority due to their remote locations or lower risk to human life. As such, landslides may still occur on these slopes within acceptable risk-controlled parameters.

In contrast, private man-made slopes are more uniform in nature. Most are located near private residences, where a landslide would have a significant impact on residents. Consequently, they are typically categorised as having relatively high potential impact and receive a higher level of attention.

Between 2020 and 2024, the annual landslide incident rates for both government and private man-made slopes remained below 1%, which the department stressed is a very low level.

The department added that it will continue to strengthen its overall capability in responding to landslide risks with respect to preparedness, early warning, emergency response and recovery.