There are about 60 000 man-made slopes in Hong Kong registered in the Slope Catalogue, comprising about 40 000 government slopes and about 20 000 private slopes.
The Buildings Department (BD) is tasked with assuring the safety of private slopes under the provision of the Buildings Ordinance (BO).
Owners' Responsibility
Private owners are responsible for maintenance of private slopes, and also slopes to which they are required to maintain under the terms of government lease.
Find out whether the owners are responsible for the slopes within or outside their lot boundary and to ascertain the extent of the land they are required to maintain.
How to check?
- Examine their relevant lease documents. If doubt, seek professional advice from lawyers or estate surveyors on the interpretation of the lease documents.
- Check the Slope Maintenance Responsibility Information System administered by the Lands Department for preliminary information on the maintenance responsibility of slopes.
Refer to the "Layman's Guide to Slope Maintenance" produced by the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department for the details of Routine Maintenance Inspection / Engineer Inspection for maintenance.
Routine Maintenance Inspection
- Minimum once every year, and
- After every rainstorm
Engineer Inspection for Maintenance
- Should be carried out at least once every five years by a professionally qualified geotechnical engineer
Enforcement Actions
1. Statutory Dangerous Hillside Order
BD issues Dangerous Hillside (DH) Orders under Section 27A of the BO pursuant to the advice of the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department, requiring responsible owners to appoint an Authorized Person (AP), a Registered Structural Engineer (RSE) or a Registered Geotechnical Engineer (RGE) or any combination of them specified in the order to undertake the investigation works and, if necessary, to appoint Registered Specialist Contractors (RSC) to repair dangerous slopes under their responsibility within the period stipulated in the DH Order.
The DH Order will be registered in the Land Registry against the related land title and to be discharged when it is complied with.
Major Steps to Comply with a DH Order
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- Owners' Corporation or all owners:
- Read the requirements stipulated in the DH Order carefully
- Discuss the follow-up actions
- Owners' Corporation or all owners:
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- Owners invite and assess tenders to select an AP and an RGE. Reference may be made to the registers of Registered Professionals at BD's website
- Owners appoint AP and RGE
# If the works involve structural elements, an RSE shall also be appointed.
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- AP invites tenders, on behalf of the owners, to select an RSC for ground investigation works, if necessary
- Owners assess the returned tenders with AP
- AP coordinates matters in compliance with the BO
- RGE assesses the slope's condition and prepares a slope stability assessment (SSA) report
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- AP submits SSA report to BD for acceptance
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- AP and RGE prepare a slope works proposal
- Owners review and comment on the proposal
- AP submits the slope works proposal to BD for approval
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- AP invites tenders, on behalf of the owners, to select an RSC for the carrying out of the approved slope works
- Owners assess the returned tenders with AP
- Owners appoint RSC
- AP and RGE supervise the slope works
- Owners ensure that AP and RGE supervise the slope works and closely monitor the progress of the works
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- AP submits a report on completion of slope works to BD
- RGE prepares a Slope Maintenance Manual to facilitate owners in carrying out slope maintenance works in future
2. Statutory Buried Services Investigation Order
BD issues Buried Services Investigation (BSI) Orders under Section 27C of the BO pursuant to the advice of the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department, requiring responsible owners to appoint an AP to undertake the investigation works and, if necessary, to arrange works to rectify any leakage, defect or inadequacy of the water pipe, drain or sewer laid in the vicinity of any slopes or earth-retaining structures which may result in a landslip or collapse of the structure within the period stipulated in the BSI Order.
The BSI Order will be registered in the Land Registry against the related land title and to be discharged when it is complied with.
Attention
In default of the owners against their compliance with the DH Orders or BSI Orders, BD may prosecute the owners who fail to comply with the orders without reasonable excuse.
Besides, BD may carry out the required works on behalf of the owners and will recover the costs plus supervision charges and a surcharge.
Penalties
Under Section 40(1B) of the BO, any person who fails to comply with a statutory order served on him under Section 27A or 27C of the Ordinance, i.e., DH Order or BSI Order, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to:
| Type | Details of Penalty |
|---|---|
| Failure to comply with a statutory order |
|
| Failure to comply with the Order has continued |
|
Common Questions
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Private owner should arrange for a Stability Assessment to be carried out by a professionally qualified geotechnical engineer.
A Stability Assessment should also be carried out if significant modifications have been made to the slope or retaining wall or to the adjacent area, or if significant deterioration of the slope or retaining wall has occurred.
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The Community Advice and Education Section of the Geotechnical Engineering Office under the Civil Engineering and Development Department provides information and advisory services to the general public on matters relating to slope safety and slope maintenance works.
For enquiry, please call 2760 5800.
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Typical Signs of Landslide Dangers
- Landslip debris on roads and footpaths
- New large cracks or ground subsidence on slopes
- Mud, rocks, fragments of concrete/brick and uprooted vegetation, falling from slopes
- Sudden change of colour of water flowing from slopes (from clear to muddy)
- Concentrated water overflowing onto slopes
- Cement/concrete surface bulging/being dislodged or signs of soil erosion
- Breaking of catchwaters, serious overflow from catchpits or drains
- Flooding of water in hilly areas
- Sudden increase in seepage over an extensive area of slopes
Landslip Warnings
Landslip warnings are issued by the Hong Kong Observatory and broadcast to alert the public.
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You may apply in writing to BD stating your grounds for extension of time and a reasonable timetable to comply with the DH Order. BD will consider the application on a case-by-case basis.
Financial Assistance
Eligible owners may apply for loans or subsidies for the carrying out of maintenance and repair works to improve the safety conditions of their private slopes to comply with statutory orders or voluntarily. Assistance schemes available are listed below:
- Building Safety Loan Scheme
by BD - Common Area Repair Works Subsidy
by Urban Renewal Authority (URA) - Building Maintenance Grant Scheme for Needy Owners
by URA - Integrated Building Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (IBRAS)
A one-stop building rehabilitation services managed by URA to help owners who are in need of financial assistance for carrying out maintenance, improvement works and rehabilitation works of the slopes/retaining walls and buildings. Under the IBRAS, owners can simply complete one set of Application Forms for multiple applications by those who meet the eligibility criteria of the respective assistance schemes.
Further Information
administered by the Civil Engineering and Development Department