To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as well as to promote the opened cycle track sections of the New Territories Cycle Track Network (NTCTN), the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) is holding the “CT60+ Cycling Rewards” from 17 September to 17 December 2022. Members of the public may participate in this event by cycling along the cycle track sections between Tuen Mun and Ma On Shan and at the Tsuen Wan waterfront of the NTCTN. They can enjoy the beautiful sceneries and cultural attractions while looking for the “check-in spots” along the cycle track sections and collecting “check-in” records. Those who have collected the required number of “check-in” records can redeem souvenirs. Where are the 15 “check-in spots”? A total of 15 “check-in spots” will be set up in two phases near the scenic spots located along the opened cycle track sections of the NTCTN during the event period. To participate, scan the QR codes displayed at these “check-in spots” with a mobile phone to enter the event website. Provide a mobile phone number to register for a game account.  Take AR photos with the mascots.  Those who have collected the required number of “check-in” records and completed the redemption process in the account within the event period can redeem souvenirs. For details, please visit the NT Cycle Track Network website. The mascots “Mr. B” , “Drainy”, “Big Waster”, “Anyone”, “Keep Clean Ambassador Ah Tak”, “Lazy Lion”, “Dr Tin”, “Water Save Dave”, and “Mr. Safegg” are ready at these “check-in spots” to explore the NTCTN with you!      The 10 “check-in spots” in Phase 1 Period: 17 Sep – 31 Oct 2022Area: The cycle track sections between Sheung Shui and Ma On Shan; and the Tsuen Wan waterfront section   1. Sha Tin Che Kung Temple(The mascot in AR filter: Lazy Lion) The ancient Sha Tin Che Kung Temple draws believers from all over Hong Kong. Every Chinese New Year, worshippers flock to the Temple. In recent years, it has even become a popular site of attraction among travellers visiting Hong Kong. Although it is impossible to know when it was built, the stele in the old temple structure says it was renovated and reconstructed in the 16th year of the reign of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1890).   2. Shatin Twin Bridge(The mascot in AR filter: Drainy)   3. Ma On Shan Hang Tai Road Resting Station(The mascot in AR filter: Keep Clean Ambassador Ah Tak)   4. Tai Po Kau Tide Gauge Station(The mascot in AR filter: Dr Tin) Tai Po Kau Tide Gauge Station is located at the end of Tai Po Railway Pier and it is an essential facility of the Hong Kong Observatory for monitoring tide levels in Tolo Harbour. The existing station was built in the 1960s and needs to be reconstructed to maintain its functions. A design competition to collect innovative ideas for the reconstruction of the station was held in November 2020. The competition was co-organised by the Hong Kong Observatory, CEDD, the Architectural Services Department and the Hong Kong Institute of Architects. The winning entry “Revealing the Tip of Iceberg” will be adopted for the reconstruction.   5. Tai Mei Tuk(The mascot in AR filter: Water Save Dave) Tai Mei Tuk is a wonderful place for relaxing. A popular holiday destination for people seeking to escape from the pressures of urban life, it is where city dwellers come to fish, cycle, boat and barbecue. One will find families flying kites and cycling back and forth along the dam, with the water of Plover Cove lapping against one side of the dam and Tolo Harbour on the other.  6. Luen Wo Hui(The mascot in AR filter: Anyone) Luen Wo Hui, built in 1951, is one of the oldest markets in Hong Kong. Adopting an early-modernist design, it is classified as a Grade III historic building. The Fanling Environmental Resource Centre located inside the Luen Wo Hui Government Offices nearby has been open for more than 17 years and provides the public with an easy access to environmental information. There are exhibition zones featuring different themes such as air quality, waste reduction and global environmental issues. It is a good location where parents can bring their children to read books and have fun.  7. Sheung Yue River, Long Valley, Ho Sheung Heung(The mascot in AR filter: Mr. B) Sheung Yue River is a scenic spot, and cycling along the river is really relaxing. Besides large water pipes, which are full of cinematic feelings, visitors may see the wild Chinese silver grass, and enjoy sweet soybean milk and silky tofu pudding in a soy factory nearby. In short, one may have multiple pleasures from various sources, such as vision, taste and photo-shooting, in a single trip.  8. Tsuen Wan Riviera Park Resting Station(The mascot in AR filter: Big Waster)   9. Tsuen Wan Waterfront Cycling Entry / Exit Hub(The mascot in AR filter: Mr. Safegg)   10. Hoi On Road Resting Station(The mascot in AR filter: Lazy Lion)        The 5 “check-in spots” in Phase 2Period: 1 Nov – 17 Dec 2022Area: The full track between Tuen Mun and Ma On Shan; and the Tsuen Wan waterfront section   11. Butterfly Beach(The mascot in AR filter: Keep Clean Ambassador Ah Tak) Butterfly Beach, the second longest beach in Tuen Mun, attracts many beach-goers with its sound facilities. Next to the Beach is a barbecue site which has the largest number of barbecue pits in Hong Kong. It is close to Butterfly Village Market where you can easily buy barbecue supplies. Butterfly Bay in the west is a good place to enjoy the sunset.   12. Tin Hau Bridge(The mascot in AR filter: Big Waster) The Tuen Mun River Footbridge, also known as “Tin Hau Bridge” and about 86 m long, adopts a design of traditional Chinese elements to tie in with the architectural style of the adjacent Tin Hau Temple Plaza. In addition to facilitating the movements of local residents, the Bridge serves as the starting point of the Tuen Mun Heritage Trail, telling the story of Tuen Mun.   13. Tin Shui Wai Cycling Entry / Exit Hub(The mascot in AR filter: Anyone)   14. Yuen Long Castle Peak Road (Tam Mei) Resting Station(The mascot in AR filter: Dr Tin)   15. The Man Tin Cheung Park(The mascot in AR filter: Water Save Dave) Located between the Castle Park Road San Tin Section and the San Tin Highway, Man Tin Cheung Park was established to commemorate Man Tin Cheung, the patriotic general of Southern Song Dynasty. Visitors may learn more about the life of General Man through a visit, while appreciating his loyalty and righteousness - “Everyone must die. Let me but leave a loyal heart shining in the pages of history”.    

In 2021, two tropical cyclones, Lionrock and Kompasu, hit Hong Kong one after another. As we know, with heavy rainfall always comes a bigger risk of landslides. In 1972, the catastrophic landslide at Po Shan Road in the Mid-Levels shattered a number of buildings, including the 12-storey Kotewall Court, and took away 67 lives. Afterwards, the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) under the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) implemented a series of landslip prevention and mitigation works in the Po Shan area, among which was the Po Shan Drainage Tunnel. Completed in 2009, the Po Shan Drainage Tunnel reduces the risk of major landslides by controlling the groundwater levels with innovative technology and becomes one of the most iconic landslip prevention and mitigation projects in Hong Kong. Besides, to convey the importance of slope safety to the public, the Landslide Sci-Tech Chamber has been set up by the GEO in the tunnel. Innovative groundwater regulation systemGiven that the Po Shan area was prone to high groundwater levels, making it susceptible to landslides, the GEO designed and built the Po Shan Drainage Tunnel in 2009, it uses an innovative and sustainable groundwater regulation system to control the groundwater levels, replacing the ageing horizontal drains installed in the 1980s. Geotechnical Engineering Graduate of the GEO, Miss Ip Ching-tung, Gloria, tells us that the Po Shan Drainage Tunnel comprises a pair of drainage tunnels (3.5m in diameter and 500m in total length) and 172 sub-vertical drains (with the longest being 100m) installed with the technique of “up-the-hole hammering” inside the narrow tunnels. It is also equipped with an automatic real-time groundwater monitoring system. When the groundwater reaches a relatively high level in times of intense rainfall, the system will alert colleagues with text messages and automatically regulate the switches to keep the groundwater levels within a specified range, thereby improving the stability of the hillside against large-scale landslides to safeguard public safety.Retractable Tunnel Boring MachineMiss Gloria Ip says that, apart from adopting the “up-the-hole hammering” technique for the first time in Hong Kong, project staff introduced a Retractable Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for boring the two drainage tunnels. After boring one of the tunnels, the TBM retracted to its original position to bore the other tunnel. A receiving shaft at the tunnel end to retrieve the boring machine was no longer needed. The adoption of this innovative technique shortened the time required to bore the tunnels to four months and also greatly reduced the environmental impact of the project.Landslide Sci-Tech ChamberThe GEO has set up the Landslide Sci-Tech Chamber in the uniquely designed Po Shan Drainage Tunnel, with guided tours to educate the public on the importance of slope safety. The chamber is divided into galleries of different themes, e.g. the Po Shan Memorial Gallery, which exhibits historical photos and records of the Po Shan Road landslide incident, reminding the public of the tragedy and the lesson learned; the Climate Change Impression Gallery, which illustrates how global warming has led to more extreme rainstorms, and explains the importance of sustained effort to ensure slope safety under extreme weather. Incorporating STEM education elementsAssistant Geotechnical Engineer of the GEO, Mr Fung Yat-fan, Dominic, adds that STEM education and interactive elements are incorporated into the chamber to make the guided activities more fun. For example, the Landslide Wisdom Gallery makes use of video clips to help participants revisit the history of landslides in Hong Kong of more than a century as well as the development of the Hong Kong Slope Safety System; the Drainage Tunnel Expression Gallery utilises Augmented Reality (AR) to visualise the operation of sub-vertical drains and introduce the innovative technology of the groundwater regulation system.Booking a guided tourTwo students who have earlier taken part in the guided tour describe their feelings about the visit to the Landslide Sci-Tech Chamber, remarking that it has been quite a new experience, such as seeing first-hand how the system works to monitor the groundwater levels in real time and to lower the levels automatically and manually. They also got a close look at the “robotic dog” and learned how the GEO mitigates the risks of landslides using innovative technology. The Landslide Sci-Tech Chamber is now open to the public, schools and organisations for guided tours; reservations can be made through the GEO’s Hong Kong Slope Safety website. For those of you who are interested, don’t miss this out! Stay alert to landslide risksClimate change gives rise to extreme weather, making landslide prevention and mitigation even more challenging. As Head of GEO, Dr Cheung Wai-man, Raymond, says, they hope that the guided tours can educate the younger generation on the history of landslides in Hong Kong, keeping them alert to the risks, and that the public can better understand how colleagues in the GEO eagerly utilise technology to manage the risks of landslides. Certainly, the public should stay away from slopes during a rainstorm or when a landslip warning is in force; and it is the responsibility of owners to carry out timely maintenance of private slopes and retaining walls as prevention. (The video is in Cantonese) (The video is provided by Development Bureau)