Slope safety upgrades and checks are ahead of the schedule laid out in the Government's 10-year Extended Landslip Preventive Measures Programme, Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao says.

She told lawmakers today the scheme is working well, with most of the 45 landslips involving upgraded slopes in the past three years being minor cases. Even the four that involved a larger volume of debris, did not cause serious problems, affecting only open space or non-major roads.

Under the 10-year programme, the Government will upgrade 250 high-priority Government man-made slopes and safety-screen 300 others annually. The target was fully met last year, Dr Liao said.

Upgrading works have been completed for 1,510 Government man-made slopes (over 60% of the target) and safety-screening studies were carried out on 2,210 private slopes (over 73% of the target) by 2005 - well above the target set under the programme.

Works on the remaining slopes under the programme will be completed by March 2010.