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An Old and Valuable Tree (OVT), which was infected with brown root rot (BRR) disease and had a potential risk of collapse, was removed today (June 11) to ensure public safety, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) said.
Located at Luen Wan Street Sitting-out Area in Mong Kok, the tree was a Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa) about 9 metres tall, with registration number LCSD YTM/103 on the Register of OVTs.
The spokesman said the department noticed that the tree had developed symptoms of BRR disease last December. The Tree Management Office (TMO) of the Development Bureau, upon further examination, confirmed that the tree was infected in January this year. A structural assessment of the tree conducted by the department later also showed that the strength of most of the wood of the trunk base was poor. A joint inspection by the LCSD, the TMO and the Expert Panel on Tree Management (EPTM) of the Development Bureau was conducted in May this year, whereas the EPTM agreed the tree was seriously infected with BRR disease, leading to a potential danger of collapse.
Since the tree was seriously tilted towards the pavement and flyover nearby and a number of structural problems were found on the tree trunk and tree root, in order to ensure public safety and to prevent the spread of BRR disease to other trees in the sitting-out area as well as the trees nearby, the EPTM agreed to remove the tree as soon as possible.
The LCSD will continue to adopt a prudent approach in inspecting and nursing its trees. Removing a problematic tree would be the last resort only when there is no viable option to keep it.
Ends/Thursday, June 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:06
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