HOW TO SELECT A GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTANT
   
When you, as an owner, receive a DH Order, you should take prompt action to comply with the requirements as specified in the Order. You should approach a professional geotechnical engineer as the works specified in the Order have to be carried out by a geotechnical specialist, who will manage investigation of the slopes and make remedial works proposals. If required, he will also commission and supervise the works after the works proposals have been approved by the BA.
   
A number of consulting firms in Hong Kong are capable of providing the services. The following points are worth noting when selecting a consultant for the work:
  
a)  details of resident directors and geotechnical engineers in the firm who are Registered Professional Engineers (Geotechnical) or Corporate Members of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers in the Geotechnical Discipline (i.e. has the firm got the required strength and resources for the work?),
  
b)  types of geotechnical services provided by the firm (i.e. does the firm provide the service required? ), and
  
c)  track record of the firm (i.e. has the firm performed similar jobs of that scale and capacity in Hong Kong before, in particular during the last 3 years?).
  
A list of Registered Professional Engineers (Geotechnical) can be obtained from the Engineers Registration Board (Tel. No. 2895 4446), c/o the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, 9/F Island Centre, 1 Great George Street, Causeway Bay. In selection, it may also be useful to solicit views from other owners corporations, which have similar experience. In this regard, advice from the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies (HKAPMC), P.O. Box 47160 Morrison Hill Post Office, Hong Kong, could be sought. 
  
It is a requirement under the Building Management Ordinance Cap 344 Section 20A and the associated Code of Practice that you should select at least 5 firms and invite a works and fee proposal from each of the firm shortlisted, based on which a detailed assessment, and selection and appointment of a consultant are made. The selection should be made objectively based on the factors given above and the quality of service expected, and not on the costs of works alone.
  
A Model Brief for an investigation, works proposal and repair works of a slope or retaining wall is given in Appendix B.