ABSTRACT
Except for the design of retaining structures and reinforced fills, geotechnical design in Hong Kong is primarily based on theAllowable Stress Design (ASD) methodology, which applies a global factor of safety to accommodate uncertainties in both resistances and loads. Many codes of practice in Hong Kong are formed based on the British Standards. Recently, many European countries, including the UK, adopted or are in a transition to the Eurocodes, which are based on Limit State Design (LSD). Besides Europe, many other countries including China, USA, Canada, Japan and Australia are either using or in a transition to the LSD methodology. The direction of Hong Kong’s future geotechnical code developments is a subject worth of studying.
