Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.

2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

Section 2 Collapsing slopes!

Data Based Questions

1. Below is the information about the natural hazard happened in Kau Wa Keng San Tsuen, Lai Chi Kok
on 4 June, 1997. Study carefully and answer the following questions.

A house in Kau Wa Keng San Tsuen, Lai Chi Kok was

damaged by landslide. A family was trapped and a boy died.
4 June, 1997

Fig.1 Location of Kau Wa

Keng San Tsuen

Total rainfall: 104.2 mm

Fig.2 Rainfall distribution on 4 June, 1997

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 Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

a. What natural hazard happened in Kau Wa Keng San Tsuen on 4 June, 1997?
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b. The flatland on which Kau Wa Keng San Tsuen is built is formed naturally or by human? Give map
evidences.
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c. Describe the total rainfall and rainfall distribution on 4 June, 1997.
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d. What are the physical and human factors causing the natural hazard at Kau Wa Keng San Tsuen?
Explain.
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a. Landslide
b. The flatland on which Kau Wa Keng San Tsuen is built is formed by human / From the map, we can
find that Kau Wa Keng San Tsuen was built on a cutting slope.
c. On 4 June, Hong Kong had more than 100 mm rainfall / Most of the rainfall was concentrated in
Kowloon, especially in the western part of Kowloon / where rainfall was over 350 mm.
d. Kau Wa Keng San Tsuen was built on a slope / The buildings add weight to the slope and make the
slope unstable / Heavy rainstorms led to very high rainfall. Kau Wa Keng San Tsuen was heavily
affected / Soils were saturated with rainwater. This reduced the friction between soil particles. The soil
then moved down the slope easily / These are the physical and human factors contributing to this
natural hazard.
##

2. Study map 1 (1:20 000) and answer the following questions.

a. What method has been used in the map to show relief?

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b. Write down the height of location P, Q, R and S.
Location P Q R S
Height (m)

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 Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

c. Write down the landforms of X, Y and Z.

X: _____________________ Y: _____________________ Z: _____________________
d. Calculate the gradient of slope A to E.
Slope A B C D E
Gradient
e. Which slope has a greater possibility of landslide? Why?
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a. Contour mapping
b.
Location P Q R S
Height (m) 550 320 340 160
c. X: Ridge / Y: Spur / Z: Valley
d.
Slope A B C D E
Gradient 1:1.5 1:1.04 1:1.5 1:2.63 1:1.32
e. Slope B / It is because slope B is the steepest / The steeper the slope, the more likely for the soil on the
slope to move downward, causing landslide.
##

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 Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

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 Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

Map 1

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 Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

3. Below is the information about Landslide Potential Index (LPI), rainstorm and landslide. Read
carefully and answer the following questions.

The Landslide Potential Index (LPI) of a rainstorm tells the relative severity of the
rainstorm in comparison with the most severe rainstorm in the past 20 years in terms of
the number of landslides that the rainstorm could lead to.

The rainstorm of late July 1994 that led to the landslide at Kwun Lung Lau with 5 deaths
and 3 serious injuries was the most severe since 1984 when GEO started to collect
comprehensive landslide and rainfall data; the rainstorm is set at an LPI of 10. A
rainstorm of LPI of 5 could be half as severe as the Kwun Lung Lau event in causing
landslides. LPI higher than 10 is possible.
Source: Civil Engineering and Development Department

Fig.1 Rainstorms since 1984 that resulted in the issue of LPI

a. (i) What is Landslide Potential Index (LPI)?

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(ii) Which government department is responsible for issuing LPI?

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 Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

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b. The table below shows the consequences of the fatal landslides of Hong Kong (as shown in Fig.1)
since 1984.
Landslide location LPI Landslide consequences
1 Lion Rock Lower Village, 1989 2 fatalities, 3 injuries, 2 squatter huts were
damaged and another 16 huts were
permanently evacuated
2 Baguio Villas, Pokfulam, 1992 2 fatalities
Kennedy Road below Wah Yan 1 fatality
College, Wan Chai, 1992
3 Cheung Shan Estate, Kwai Chung, 1 fatality and 5 injuries
1993
4 Kwun Lung Lau Kennedy Town, 1994 5 fatalities and 3 injuries
5 Milestone 14 /2 Castle Peak Road,
1
1 fatalty and 17 injuries
1994
6 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen, 1995 2 fatalities, 5 injuries, 3 shipyard and a factory
were damaged
Fei Tsui Road, Chai Wan, 1995 1 fatality and 1 injury
7 Kau Wa Keng Upper Village, 1997 1 fatality, 5 injuries and 1 squatter hut was
damaged
8 Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, 1 fatality, 1injuries and a building known as
Shatin, 1997 ‘Kun Yam Din’ was damaged
9 Sham Tseng Sun Tseun, 1999 1 fatality, 13 injuries, a squatter dwelling was
demolished and several other dwellings were
severely damaged
10 Fu Yung Shan Sun Tseun, 2005 1 fatality

(i) Fill in the LPIs of the above landslides.

(ii) Which two landslides have the highest LPI?
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(iii) What are their LPIs? What do these represent?
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c. What can the Government do to reduce the casualties caused by landslides?

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 Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

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a. (i) The Landslide Potential Index (LPI) of a rainstorm tells the relative severity of the rainstorm in
comparison with the most severe rainstorm in the past 20 years in terms of the number of
landslides that the rainstorm could lead to.
(ii) Civil Engineering and Development Department
b. (i)
Landslide location LPI Landslide consequences
1 Lion Rock Lower Village, 1989 6 2 fatalities, 3 injuries, 2 squatter huts were
damaged and another 16 huts were permanently
evacuated
2 Baguio Villas, Pokfulam, 1992 3 2 fatalities
Kennedy Road below Wah Yan 1 fatality
College, Wan Chai, 1992
3 Cheung Shan Estate, Kwai Chung, 1 1 fatality and 5 injuries
1993
4 Kwun Lung Lau Kennedy Town, 10 5 fatalities and 3 injuries
1994
5 Milestone 141/2 Castle Peak Road, 3 1 fatalty and 17 injuries
1994
6 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen, 1995 6 2 fatalities, 5 injuries, 3 shipyard and a factory
were damaged
Fei Tsui Road, Chai Wan, 1995 1 fatality and 1 injury
7 Kau Wa Keng Upper Village, 1997 2 1 fatality, 5 injuries and 1 squatter hut was
damaged
8 Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, 6 1 fatality, 1injuries and a building known as ‘Kun
Shatin, 1997 Yam Din’ was damaged
9 Sham Tseng Sun Tseun, 1999 8 1 fatality, 13 injuries, a squatter dwelling was
demolished and several other dwellings were
severely damaged
10 Fu Yung Shan Sun Tsuen, 2005 10 1 fatality
(ii) Kwun Lung Lau, Kennedy Town 1994 / Fu Yung Shan Sun Tsuen, 2005

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 Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

(iii) Both of their LPIs are 10 / The rainstorm leading to Kwun Lung Lau Landslide was the most
serious within the last twenty years / The number of landslides it caused is defined as the
standard of level 10 of LPI / Therefore, the power of rainstorm causing Fu Yung Shan Sun
Tsuen landslide, 2005, was equal to the rainstorm causing Kwun Lung Lau landslide. So, it
caused the same number of landslides as Kwun Lung Lau Landslide did.
c. When there are continuous rainstorms, government departments should issue the landslide warning to
the public / reminding them to stay away from slopes or retaining walls / Residents who live close to
dangerous slopes should evacuate / The Government should educate the public about the importance
of slope maintenance, raising their awareness so that they can take precaution measure before
landslides occur.
##

4. The figure below shows the relief of Hong Kong. Study carefully and answer the following questions.

Fig.1 Relief of Hong Kong

a. Write down the names, heights and locations of the three highest peaks in Hong Kong.
Peak Height Location (grid square)

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 Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

1st highest peak

2nd highest peak
3rd highest peak

b. What are the characteristics of Hong Kong’s relief?

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c. Describe the distribution of lowland in Hong Kong.
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d. Apart from natural formation, how does the lowland of Hong Kong come from?
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a.
Peak Height Location (grid square)
1st highest peak Tai Mo Shan 957 0234
2nd highest peak Fung Wong Shan 934 0133
(Lantau Peak)
3rd highest peak Tai Tung Shan 869 0133
b. The relief of Hong Kong is hilly / There is very little flatland.
c. Most of the lowlands can be found in the northern part of the New Territories / For example, the Yuen
Long Plain and the Sheung Shui- Fanling Plain / There are some narrow lowlands along the coast of
Victoria Harbour.
d. Reclamation
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5. The following information is about the relief of China. Study carefully and answer the following
questions.
Percentage of areas with different heights in China
500 m or
Height (m) Over 3 000 m 2001-3 000 m 1 001-2 000 m 501-1 000 m
below
Percentage of
25.9 7.0 25.0 16.9 25.2
the total area (%)

a. How many percentage of land in China is over 500 m?

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 Geography Resources Bank: Question Bank (F.2)
Section 2 : Collapsing slopes!

b. (i) Where is the land below 500 m mainly distributed in China?

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(ii) Give two examples of plains in China.
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c. (i) Where is the land over 3 000 m mainly distributed in China?

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(ii) Give two examples of plateaus in China.
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(iii) Which one is the highest mountain range in China?
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d. What are the overall characteristics of China’s relief?
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a. 74.8%
b. (i) Eastern China
(ii) Dongbei Pingyuan / Huabei Pingyuan / Middle and lower Chang Jiang Pingyuan (Any 2)
c. (i) Western China
(ii) Huangtu Gaoyuan / Nei Mongol Gaoyuan / Yungui Gaoyuan / Xizang Gaoyuan / Qinghai
Gaoyuan (Any 2)
(iii) Himalayas
d. The relief of China is hilly / Two-thirds of the country is made up of highland / The altitude decreases
from the west to east / The relief is high in the western region / Most of the lands in the eastern region
are lowland.
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