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Geotechnical Control |
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One of GEO's major slope
safety regulatory functions is to check the design of
earthworks to ensure they meet current safety standards.
Geotechnical checking is exercised largely through the
three District Divisions of the GEO: Mainland
West Division, Mainland
East Division and Island
Division, each of which has responsibility for a geographical
region of Hong Kong. Because of its importance to the
slope safety system, about a quarter of the GEO professional
staff are devoted to geotechnical checking.
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The scope of checking
covers the design of the geotechnical aspects of all building
developments and civil engineering works and the standards
of site supervision. In particular, the District Divisions
check the adequacy of site formation works, slope upgrading
works, earth retaining structures and deep excavations
that are designed and constructed by the private sector,
public authorities and Government departments.
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District Division staff
are concerned daily with a range of geotechnical problems
relating to projects which are often situated on extremely
difficult terrain. Major earthworks are commonplace for
building developments on slopes, as are deep excavations
on reclaimed land. The staff deal with a large number
of submissions and are constantly in direct contact with
consulting engineers and architects in the private sector,
and with professional staff of other Government departments.
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In exercising geotechnical control over private sector
projects, the GEO operates through the statutory authority
of the Buildings Department, which approves design submissions
made by developer's/owner's designers before construction
proceeds. For public works, under Government administrative
instructions the District Divisions exercise geotechnical
control over the projects undertaken by various Government
departments and offices, to the same standard as for private
sector projects. |
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