The Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) will fully implement the "Smart Slope Record" system within this year.

HONG KONG -- The Ombudsman released a proactive investigation report on June 29, 2026, comprehensively reviewing the Government's handling of maintenance responsibilities and risk management for private man-made slopes. In light of frequent collapse incidents of man-made slopes during recent rainy seasons, the Government has proposed improvement measures across four major areas, marking a shift in slope safety policy from "passive response" to "proactive management."

Expedited Responsibility Identification: Completion Within Six Months The identification of maintenance responsibilities for new or modified man-made slopes has been significantly accelerated and can currently be completed within six months in general. In addition to uploading results to its website, the Lands Department will immediately notify relevant property owners in writing. For past cases where responsibilities were identified but not yet notified, authorities will issue notification letters in batches starting in the second half of the year to ensure clarity of responsibility at the household level.

AI-Powered Risk Screening: Full Rollout of Smart Slope Record Within the Year The Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) will fully implement the "Smart Slope Record" system within this year. By integrating multi-source data including prevention, maintenance, and rainfall, and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) big data analysis, the system precisely screens slopes that require prioritized safety studies. For slopes that are non-dangerous but inadequately maintained, authorities will issue advisory letters to property owners and provide professional advisory services, embodying a governance mindset of "prevention is better than cure."

Legislative Amendments to Increase Penalties; Doubling Government Intervention Capacity The Development Bureau proposes amending the Buildings Ordinance, with plans to submit the amendment bill to the Legislative Council for scrutiny by the end of this year, substantially increasing fines for non-compliance with work orders beyond the deadline. Simultaneously, for cases involving immediate safety hazards where property owners show no substantive progress, the Government will directly intervene to carry out default works. Relevant figures show that default work cases grew significantly from 22 in 2023 to 40 in 2024, and further to 66 in 2025, reflecting the Government's determination to resolve urgent hazards.

Upgraded Inter-departmental Collaboration Mechanism To address past issues of unclear departmental roles and responsibilities, the Lands Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), and the Buildings Department have established a high-level working group with a regular meeting mechanism to resolve jurisdictional disputes. The new inter-departmental online platform launched last December enables real-time opinion exchanges, eliminating pass-the-buck situations at the technical level.

Industry Impact and Insights This reform carries multiple implications for building professionals:

• The application of AI risk assessment tools will transform traditional slope survey models.

• Enhanced compliance liabilities following statutory amendments require property owners and consultancy teams to plan maintenance timetables well in advance.

• Inter-departmental data sharing means engineering applications and regulatory processes will become increasingly transparent.

Industry stakeholders should closely monitor the progress of Legislative Council scrutiny at the end of the year and assess the slope maintenance liabilities of existing projects to prepare for all contingencies. (Reported by Building.hk)