Route 10 - The Peak (Peak Galleria Car Park)－Junction of Magazine Gap Road and Peak Road Flashcards
Route 10 - Points to mention:
The Peak (Peak Galleria Car Park)－Junction of Magazine Gap Road and Peak Road
this section ends at Junction of Magazine Gap Road and Peak Road. i.e. 4
2 sites and 2 optional bullet points - 9-10 minutes
- Pok Fu Lam Reservoir
- Water Supply (Optional)
- Climate and Natural Disasters (Optional)
- Dangerous slopes
Pok Fu Lam Reservoir
1. Introduction: (3)
2. History: (6)
3. Further Development: (2)
1. Introduction: (3)
* (As the group boards the bus and gets seated) Did anyone manage to snap some great photos from the top just now? Or maybe you picked up a fun souvenir or two? The Peak is definitely one of the best places in Hong Kong to capture memories and bring a little piece of the city home.
* (As the bus starts moving) Now we’re leaving the summit of Victoria Peak. Please stay seated as we make our way down. You’ll notice that as soon as our tour bus exits the parking lot, we’ll take a left turn.
* Keep an eye on the right-hand side, just a bit downhill. Hidden among the greenery is the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir.
2. History: (6)
* This small reservoir holds a big place in Hong Kong’s history, as it was the very first reservoir built in the city.
* Back in the mid-1800s, Hong Kong had no natural lakes or major rivers. People relied on nearby streams, rainwater and well water, which became increasingly unreliable as the population grew.
* These methods however were unable to support the rapid growth of the Hong Kong population since 1841. Due to diseases caused by polluted water, the Government needed an urgent solution to the problem.
* In 1860, an English engineer named Rawling suggested building a reservoir in Pok Fu Lam Valley.
* It was completed in 1863, but to everyone’s surprise, it could only store enough water for four days!
* Eventually, an expansion was finished in 1877 to increase its capacity.
3. Further Development: (2)
* To meet growing demand, the government embarked on a major expansion of the island’s water infrastructure. Over the next several decades, six more reservoirs were built on Hong Kong Island.
* By the time last reservoirs were added in Aberdeen in 1931, Hong Kong Island had a total of seven reservoirs, with a combined storage capacity of approximately 8.7 million cubic meters—that’s about 33 times the size of the original Pok Fu Lam Reservoir.
Water Supply (optional)
1. 1963 Water Crisis: (4)
2. Further Development: (2)
3. 3. Conclusion: (1)
Despite these advances, Hong Kong’s water supply still proved vulnerable, especially in years of low rainfall.
1. 1963 Water Crisis: (4)
* This was made painfully clear during the 1963 drought, when the water levels dropped so low that residents received water for only 4 hours every other day.
* All then built 15 reservoirs were local rain-fed systems. When rainfall failed, there was no alternative source.
* By 1963, population exceeded 3 million, and its needs had outgrown its local supply.
* This crisis forced a turning point. In response, the Hong Kong government began importing fresh water from the Dongjiang River in Guangdong Province, a move that still supports the majority of Hong Kong’s drinking water today.
2. Further Development: (2)
Also, in response, the government radically rethought its strategy and launched two of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Hong Kong’s history:
* Completed in 1968, the Plover Cove Reservoir was the first in the world to convert a sea inlet into a freshwater lake, with a storage capacity of ~230 million cubic meters.
* Ten years later, the High Island Reservoir (completed in 1978) in the Sai Kung Peninsula remains Hong Kong’s largest reservoir, capable of holding ~273 million cubic meters. It was created by building two giant dams across coastal valleys to form an inland lake.
3. Conclusion: (1)
Together, these two reservoirs more than doubled the city’s total storage capacity and, along with the start of Dongjiang water imports from Guangdong in 1965, transformed Hong Kong into a regional model for water management.
Climate and Natural disasters (optional)
4. Climate:
* Subtropical Climate: Hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters.
* Four Seasons:
1. Spring (Mar-May): Warm, humid, occasional rain.
2. Summer (Jun-Sep): Hot (up to 35°C), humid, frequent typhoons.
3. Autumn (Oct-Nov): Pleasant, cooler, drier.
4. Winter (Dec-Feb): Mild (10-20°C), little rain, occasional cold spells.
* Typhoon Season: June to October, with strong winds and heavy rain.
* Annual Rainfall: ~2,400mm, mostly in summer months.
6. Natural Disasters:
* Typhoons: Most frequent disaster, occurring June–October. Hong Kong uses a Tropical Cyclone Warning System (T1–T10) for public safety.
* Heavy Rain & Flooding: Common during summer; Amber, Red, and Black Rainstorm Warnings issued based on severity.
* Landslides: Triggered by heavy rain, especially in hilly areas. The Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) manages slope safety.
* Storm Surges: Strong typhoons can cause coastal flooding, as seen in Typhoon Mangkhut (2018).
* Earthquakes: Rare and usually mild, as Hong Kong is not on a major tectonic boundary.
Dangerous Slopes on HK Island and across Hong Kong
The Peak’s Risk Factor: Steep slopes make landslide prevention crucial for safety.
1. Mountainous Terrain & Dense Population:
Requires hillside construction, increasing landslide risk.
2. Frequent Landslides:
~300 reports annually, especially during heavy rain.
3. Major Past Landslides:
* 1925 & 1972: Fatal landslides on The Peak.
* 1976 Sau Mau Ping Landslide: Led to the creation of the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) in 1977.
* 1995 Kotewall Road Disaster: Further highlighted slope dangers.
4. Comprehensive Slope Safety System:
* Landslide warnings issued during heavy rain.
* Warning signs placed near dangerous slopes.
* Regular maintenance & inspections by the GEO (Geotechnical Engineering Office).
4-Storey Mansion
Four-Storey Mansion:
* Owned by wealthy Chinese merchant with four wives.
* Wives nicknamed Plum, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, and Bamboo.
* Each floor had separate entrance for each wife.
* Built at 27 Magazine Gap Road
* Designed by Palmer & Turner
* Completed in 1954
