April showers bring May flowers, as the saying goes, but they also bring a heightened risk of landslides.
As Hong Kong enters the rainy season, which typically lasts from April to September, the Civil Engineering department is launching an exhibition on the history of landslides in Hong Kong.
The exhibition, which opens tomorrow, comes when public awareness of slope safety seems to be slipping, even though Hong Kong typically has many landslides a year, most of them minor.
'We try to remind the public that they have to maintain vigilance and not be complacent, even though there are fewer landslides in recent years because major landslides can occur anytime,' said Tam Heng-kong, a senior geotechnical engineer with the department.
With its hilly terrain and rainy climate, Hong Kong is a prime candidate for landslides and the city has seen its fair share.
One of the worst days came on June 18, 1972, when landslides at Sau Mau Ping Estate in Kowloon and on Po Shan Road in Mid-Levels killed 138 people.
