27 3 Government Panel on Adaptation and Resilience forward, the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of CEDD is strengthening preparedness to “expect the unexpected”.6 To prepare for the unexpected scenarios, GEO continues to strengthen Hong Kong’s slopes through various means, such as robust slope stabilization measures like soil nails, enhanced drainage provisions, and an underground drainage tunnel at Po Shan with adverse site settings and innovative natural terrain landslide risk mitigation measures. Furthermore, GEO continues to work with academia, research institutions and industry practitioners to advance knowledge and practice efficiency in water recycling, and recycled water could also be used for non-domestic purposes. Despite its energy intensiveness, desalinated water is a potable water resource and desalination is a major endeavour of WSD. The first stage of Tseung Kwan O Desalination Plant will be commissioned in 2023 to produce potable water of 50 mcm per year; and the second stage could double the production. Managing slopes and preventing landslides Hong Kong has been particularly successful in managing slopes to prevent landslides since the 1970s. Its slope safety system is highly regarded around the world. However, climate change is increasing extreme rainfall events that pose new landslide risks to the hilly conditions of Hong Kong. An example of an extreme weather event was on 7 June 2008 when very heavy downpours occurred that led to 3,000 landslides, with 2,500 of them on Lantau Island where the rains were the heaviest. A notable landslide also occurred on 8 June 2022 in Sai Kung that resulted in the closure of Pak Tam Road for 7 days affecting more than 400 villagers, and where emergency ferry services had to be arranged. Going FIGURE 3.8 Landslide risk in Hong Kong Overall landslide risk 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Year 1977 Landslide risk cannot be zero Hong Kong Slope Safety System Extreme rainfall events brought by climate change Establishment of Hong Kong slope safety system by the CEO Risk increase due to population growth, slope degradation and more frequent extreme weather events No. of landslide fatalities in the year 149 “Landslide risk in Hong Kong cannot be zero. We need to strengthen our preparedness to “expect the unexpected” scenarios” Raymond Cheung Head of Geotechnical Engineering Office, CEDD Raymond Cheung, CEDD
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