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The direct investigations are now completed
On 8 January 2026, the Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, announced the completion of a direct investigation operation into the work of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on landslide prevention and mitigation as well as management of government slopes, with 32 major recommendations for improvements made to the Civil Engineering and Development Department (“CEDD”), the Lands Department (“LandsD”), the Highways Department (“HyD”), the Water Supplies Department (“WSD”) and the Architectural Services Department (“ArchSD”).
On 14 November 2024, the Office of The Ombudsman (“the Office”) announced the launch of a direct investigation operation into the Government’s monitoring and regulation of slope safety. Given the extent and complexity of the topic, the Office decided to initiate two direct investigation operations under a series approach to focus on the different aspects involved more effectively. While the first direct investigation operation announced by the Office today examines in detail the Government’s landslide prevention and mitigation work, and its management of government man-made slopes, the second operation to be completed and announced later will focus on the authorities’ determination of slope maintenance responsibility and risk management of private man-made slopes.
Mr Chan said, “Hong Kong is densely populated and characterised by its hilly terrain and scarcity of land. Coupled with the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events, the risk of severe landslides is indeed a significant hazard, posing potential threats to the public’s daily activities, lives and property.
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Source: The Office of the Ombudsman Hong Kong, China
