If slopes and retaining walls are not properly maintained, there will be chances that rainwater may penetrate into the slopes, resulting in soil erosion and even landslips that will endanger human lives during wet seasons. In the four squatters area including Lo Wai, San Tsuen, Kwong Pan Tin Tsuen in Fu Yung Shan, Tsuen Wan, many houses and roads are built close to slopes where landslips had occurred leading to casualty. In addition, some houses were built with iron sheets, allow fire to easily spread out of control. This is especially the case during winter, when humidity is low and when residents do not pay enough attention.

Emphasize on disaster preparedness for protecting life

To promote the sense of disaster preparedness in the community, a one-year slope and home safety program has been launched by the HKRC, Civil Engineering and Development Department and HK SKH Lady MacLehose Centre last April. 39 Safety Ambassadors has been recruited to conduct the disaster preparedness education program in Tsuen Wan. Apart from major exhibition and carnival, volunteers have visited the residents of the above four squatters, paid regular visits to 51 elderly singleton and passing along knowledge on prevention of landslips, fire and home accidents, etc. Volunteers also helped to remove moss outside elders’ home for reducing their risk exposure and building a safe living environment.

Knowledge on landslip prevention is delivering to a villager

Helping to remove moss outside an elders’ home for fall prevention