Integration of manmade slopes into Hong Kong's urban environment

Hong Kong's intense urban development has resulted in many man-made slopes and retaining walls on the lower portions of steep natural terrain. These features were often covered with visually obtrusive hard surface protection - chunam, sprayed concrete, concrete or masonry facing - but the construction of such inert engineered slopes, which are stark and environmentally unfriendly, has become less common particularly due to changes in policy of the Government departments involved in slope works. Recent slope engineering practices in Hong Kong are reviewed from an aesthetic perspective. The application, effectiveness and potential of selected geotechnical, landscaping and slope revegetation techniques are considered for the upgrading of existing slopes and the treatment of new features, The use of such ground bio-engineering techniques is helpful in minimising adverse visual impacts and providing overall improvements to environmental quality.