ISA HK/China --- Largest CA exam in ISA

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***

Dear Station Members,

It is the pleasure of ISA HK/China to inform you that we now run close to the biggest Certified Arborist (CA) Exam in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China with more than 195 candidates qualified for the Nov exam, for which we have to split into two separate sessions so that we can accommodate all in Nov & Dec.

Our Proctor & Assistant Proctor strength has also grown to a phenomenal 18 no. so that we can cope with the expanding number of candidates. We can further increase this number if we have a genuine need in time to come when the ISA exams will spill further into Taiwan & China.

With facts & performance, ISA HK/China can very well tell the world that we are bearing the fore front to establish ISA in our territory & we have not failed anyone bearing hope on us to bring in proper Tree Care to our community. Our Station Membership is now close to 1,000 no. in ISA HK/China alone & there is another +200 no. in TCHK. We are now negotiating with ISA New Zealand to bring in the National Certificate in Arboriculture which is a Commonwealth credential to our territory so that in future, our local candidates do not need to go overseas for this practical training to learn how to conduct Tree Work in the field. The training is expected to come out in March 2010 & we shall announce it in Station Mail in time for all those interested to join (around 20 places only).

For your additional information, the Station Manger has already agreed to take part in the first round of the NZ National Cert training to boost intake, even though training does not bring as much income as Tree Assessment & Tree Work for the Station Manager, as his commitment to develop ISA Arboriculture in our territory. The Station Manger has trained Commonwealth Champion like KW Lee & the Fung Kai Tree Climbers. He has also given training in various Govt Depts for Arboricultural knowledge & has taken more Court Witness cases than anyone in HK.

Therefore, ISA HK/China wishes to thank you all for your continuous support. With all of you by our side, Taiwan & China will not be far away for ISA to break into. Once China is heated up for ISA credentials, there may even be a CA exam in one of the 900 cities in China every single day to satisfy their public demand. By then, the world will look upon us with a different spectrum for an ISA Organization without funding & open Govt support, but growing & running well by a dedicated group of enthusiasts, to accomplish a mission impossible which has never been attempted or succeeded by others before within the time & scale we have achieved.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

"Trees are good for the community. Trees need care like human beings. Arborists are the Tree Care Professionals."

ISA HK/China --- Arborist Position in TMO

Dear ISA HK/China & TCHK Station Members,

ISA HK/China has been requested by the HKSAR Govt to broadcast the Recruitment Information for non-Civil Servant vacancy as Arborist in the attachment. This post is meant to work in the future Tree Management Office (TMO) which is to be set up soon in the HKSAR Govt.

ISA HK/China has seen this as a major advancement in our Civil Services structure to recognize the Arborist Profession as an independent expertise & ISA HK/China has always been in full support for the TMO from its initial concept.

Therefore, would all those who think they are eligible for this important position, please kindly follow the given details to apply as soon as possible. ISA HK/China looks upon this future Arborist in the TMO to correct & update the Tree affairs in HK to turn our trees into social benefits & not liabilities anymore.

Good luck to all you applicants & we look forward to seeing the appropriate candidate sitting on this post to work for us very soon.

rgds,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

Development BureauWorks Branch (Non-civil Service Vacancy) Arborist (Salary: $55,500 per month)

Entry requirements:

Candidates should:

(a) have a degree in arboriculture or a related field such as botany,biology, forestry, horticulture, landscape architecture, landscapemanagement, landscape science, or equivalent;

(b) have a qualification orcertification offered by a professional institution or industry organisationon arboriculture after successful completion of examination or assessmentprocess conducted within or accredited by the institution or organisation,such as Certified Arborist of the International Society of Arboriculture,Professional Member or Fellow of the Arboricultural Association of theUK, European Tree Technician of the European Arboricultural Council,General Member of the National Arborists Association of Australia, orequivalent;

(c) have a minimum of three years of proven full-timepractical experience in arboriculture, such as experience in tree riskassessment and management, pruning, plant nutrition and fertilisation,planting and care after planting, diagnosis and treatment of tree problems,cabling and bracing, or other services that relate to arboriculture, withemphasis on preparing guidance documents on arboriculture, preparing orvetting tree risk assessment reports, supervising arboricultural work, andhandling public education and community involvement matters; and

(d)have attained Level 2 or above in English Language in the Hong KongCertificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) or equivalent, and cancommunicate in Chinese effectively, preferably with a Level 2 or abovein Chinese Language in HKCEE or equivalent

Note :

Note -(1) For non-civil service appointment purpose, ‘Grade E’ in ChineseLanguage and English Language (Syllabus B) in previous HKCEEare accepted administratively as comparable to ‘Level 2’ in ChineseLanguage and English Language in the 2007 HKCEE and thereafter.2Duties:Successful candidates will be deployed to the Tree Management Office inthe Works Branch of the Development Bureau to undertake the followingduties

Note (2):(a) Providing arboricultural technical advice on or assisting in –(i) the development and review of the tree risk assessmentarrangements and the monitoring of their application,(ii) the monitoring of the overall situation of tree removal and thehandling of complex cases,(iii) the formulation of standards and guidelines on treemanagement,(iv) research on overseas legislation, practices etc. on treemanagement,(v) liaison with the relevant local and overseas institutions on thelatest scientific and technological developments,(vi) duties relating to the Expert Panel on vegetation management,(vii) the review of Government’s emergency responsearrangements in relation to tree management, and(viii) the handling of public education and community involvementmatters;(b) Supervising the work of an inspection team; and(c) Undertaking any other duties as assigned in relation to the work ofthe Tree Management Office.

Note -(3) Successful candidates may be required to work irregular hours andon public holidays.

Terms of appointment:

Successful candidates will be employed on non-civil service contractterms for two years.

Fringe benefits:

A gratuity may be granted upon satisfactory completion of the fullcontract period with a consistently high standard of performance. The amount of gratuity payable will be the sum which, when added to theGovernment’s contribution to the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF)Scheme as required by the MPF Schemes Ordinance, equals to 15% of the total basic salary drawn during the contract period. Twelve days’annual leave and full-pay sickness allowance and maternity leave, if applicable, will be granted. The benefits in respect of rest days and statutory holidays (or substitute holidays) will be granted in accordance with the provisions of the Employment Ordinance.

How to apply:

Application Forms [G.F. 340(Rev. 3/2008)] are obtainable from anyPublic Enquiry Service Centre of District Offices, Home AffairsDepartment or any Job Centre of the Employment Services Division,Labour Department. The said form can also be downloaded from theCivil Service Bureau’s website (http://www.csb.gov.hk).

Completed forms, together with a full curriculum vitae should reach the Personnel Unit, Development Bureau at 10/F, Murray Building, Garden Road,Central, Hong Kong (Enquiry telephone no.: 2848 2053) by 6 November 2009.

The curriculum vitae should include (a) grading ofthe subjects taken in public examinations from secondary educationonwards (with exact dates of scoring the results); (b) details of bachelordegree and higher level (e.g. major subjects and class and division ofhonours); (c) professional qualifications obtained; and (d) employmentrecords with detailed description of duties. Applications without complete or unclear information will not be considered.

Candidateswho are selected for interview will normally receive an invitation in about 4 - 6 weeks after the closing date for application. Those who are not invited for interview may assume that their applications areunsuccessful.

Closing Date for Application: 6 November 2009

General Notes:

(a) Non-civil service vacancies are not posts on the civil service establishment. Candidates appointed are not on civil service terms of appointment and conditions of service. Candidates appointed are not civil servants and will not be eligible for posting, promotion or transfer to any post in the Civil Service.

(b) Candidates appointed must be permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region unless specified otherwise.

(c) The entry pay, terms of appointment and conditions of service to be offered are subject to the provisions prevailing at the time the offer of appointment is made.

(d) It is Government policy to place people with a disability in appropriate jobs wherever possible. If a disabled candidate meets the entry requirements, he/shewill be invited to attend the selection interview without being subject to any further shortlisting criteria.

(e) Holders of academic qualifications other than those obtained from Hong Kong institutions / Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority may also apply but their qualifications will be subject to assessments on equivalence with the required entry qualifications. They should submit copies of their official transcripts and certificates by mail together with their application forms.

ISA HK/China --- Incoming Mail (Arboricultural Degree)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***

Dear xxx,

Thank you for your enquiry below. We broadcast our reply in an open Station Mail while covering your identity, but we are sure that you can pick it up to be your own by recognizing your own message below.

Being the official representative to promote ISA in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China, we follow the ISA practice not to recognize any arboricultural credential but only that of ISA & of ISA HK/China. Therefore, it is your freedom to pursuit any arboricultural credential in the market but ISA HK/China would only endorse upon the Certified Arborist (CA), Certified Tree Worker (CTW) & Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/08/isa-hkchina-independent-practicing.html), or any other local credential of our own in our territory in future.

Please also note that it is a Pre-Qualification Requirement for a degree holder in Arboriculture to have a minimum of 1 year full time Tree Work experience if this candidate wishes to apply for the CA exam. In other word, obtaining a degree in Arboriculture does not qualify you to become a Certified Arborist (CA), & the CA credential is taken as a post graduate qualification.

There are basically 6 requirements to register as an IPA in our territory:

1. Holding the CA credential for more than 3 years; &

2. Simultaneously holding the CTW credential for more than 3 years; &

3. Attending an ISA International Conference at least once; &

4. Holding an 'O' Level in Common Laws or equivalent; &

5. Holding an 'A' Level in English Language or equivalent; &

6. Demonstrating competency in Chainsaw Operation & Basic Rigging on tree.

Obtaining an Arboricultural degree does not satisfy any of the 6 requirements above & therefore does not exempt you from any of the above to be registered into our IPA system.

What our territory would need most urgently now are really Field Arborists & not Office Arborists to conduct Tree Survey (in an approved Arboricultural manner), Structural Pruning (with Tree Climbing & Rigging), Tree Inspection & Assessment, & Arboricultural Consultation (to site management & works teams). ISA HK/China have briefly browsed into several of the Arboricultural Degree Distant Learning Program on-line & found that they are mostly literature & research based only. After all, very few distant learning programs in greenery training can offer field work due to the lack of approved tutors locally & training ground. This will be like training up a bunch of Medical Practitioners over a computer only without clinical practice. We do not recognize this can meet our requirements to become an IPA.

ISA HK/China is currently working hard with ISA NZ to bring over the National Certificate in Arboriculture (Level 4) which is much field based to train up Practicing Arborists in our territory. Do remember that ISA HK/China is not for just HK alone but do serve other parts of our territory of Macau, Taiwan & the massive China. Our vision does not stop at HK only & we look way far beyond. HK alone does not limit our advancement, & we have to care for the need & development in other parts of our territory. Our IPA system & the introduction of the National Certificate in Arboriculture (Level 4) are meant for just that.

Please do keep you eye open for our announcement for the National Certificate in Arboriculture (Level 4) in the near future, if you are interested to enter field practice rather than just focusing on office work & research alone.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

"Trees are good for the community. Trees need care like human beings. Arborists are the Tree Care Professionals."


----- Original Message -----
From: xxx
To: egc@netvigator.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 0x, 2009 x:x8 PM
Subject: Enquiry on Arboricultural Degree

Hi Sammy,

My friends are now talking about some distant learning for a degree in Arboriculture. Do you have any knowledge in this & does your Station approve? If I get this degree at the end, can you exempt me for my lack of working experience to register as IPA in your Station?

Many thanks & have a good day.

Regards,

xxx
Station Member

ISA HK/China --- Incoming Mail (The Spirit of Supervision)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***

Dear xxx,

Thank you for your enquiry. We broadcast our reply by covering your personal details so that your identity is protected as our usual practice. We have been asked several times on the same topic in the past.

Your enquiry is of a common nature in our territory in the belief that books & lectures can cover all knowledge & credentials alone can help to conduct good work. This common hypothesis would not stand up in the Arborist Profession internationally unfortunately.

We would direct you to first of all understand the word of 'Supervision' in dictionary. In the computer dictionary of Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supervision), this term would be defined as:

"Supervision means the act of watching over the work or tasks of another who may lack full knowledge of the concept at hand. Supervision does not mean control of another but guidance in a work, professional or personal context.

In work environments, a supervisor is one who oversees workers."

In other word, anyone conducting Supervision should be very knowledgeable in the trade, has experience in the work & is able to show or even take over the work from the subordinates when it becomes necessary.

In the case of Tree Pruning, we would expect the Pruning Supervisor to be able to climb to inspect tree, lay out a Work Plan, tell his/her workers exactly where to cut & with what, & is able to demonstrate chainsaw operation for cutting if his/her workers become subversive. In general term, the subordinates would only respect the senior if the senior is better & stronger than they are. If not, mutiny or feet dragging would occur to slow or mess up the whole piece of work.

Imagine an Army Sergeant who can not fire a gun. Would his soldiers listen to him/her in a firing practice? Or in the case of a Driving Instructor who can not handle the car?

Similar analogy would apply to other Tree Work like transplantation, removal or tree survey as you have mentioned. The Supervisor must be experienced, well trained & capable to conduct the assignment, before he/she is accepted by his/her workforce for Supervision.

ISA HK/China do not know of a Tree Work Supervisor in western country who can not climb, operate chainsaws or rig, but just waving credentials & qualifications on site. This person will become a laughing stock among the tree workers.

Therefore, perhaps your enquiry has been answered in an indirect manner & we hope you would now appreciate why ISA HK/China had set up the IPA (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/08/isa-hkchina-independent-practicing.html) credential to ensure our Practicing Arborists can design & supervise Arboricultural Work in any form it may arrive. The IPA is the next step to aim after your Certified Arborist credential & the conditions to become one would ensure you to be good enough to carry out Tree Work Supervision along with others.

ISA HK/China would expect you to have a long way to go before you would consider to conduct Supervision in Arboricultural Work after your first qualification.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

"Trees are good for the community. Trees need care like human beings. Arborists are the Tree Care Professionals."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

寄件人: xxx
收件人: Eurasian Garden Ltd / ISA HK/China
傳送日期﹕ 2009 年 x月 xx 日 星期x 下午 x:10:08
主題： 查詢

Dear Mr. Au,

I am recently qualified & I am asked to supervise tree work (pruning/transplanting/survey) by bosses. Any books you recommend to study to do well on site?

Thank you for reply.

Regards,

xxx

Yahoo!香港提供網上安全攻略，教你如何防範黑客!了解更多

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Wanchai and Repulse Bay Tree Failure)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***

Dear Station Members,

Attached & below are two recent counts of local Tree Failure worthy for discussion in our Station:

1. Tree Failure in Buk Tai Temple in Wanchai (see attached)

This incident appeared on the local media may be because the fallen branches damaged a temple where prominent citizens are visiting. Other than that, there did not appear to be any significant value in this Tree Failure case when compared to many other Tree Failures on slope all over HK.

What has raised the eyebrow of this Station in this incident would be that this tree was said to be inspected by somebody just 3 months ago before the incident. As trees are developing creatures & they change shape & condition in reaction to the environment, it is very difficult to draw a line to say whether this tree must fail in a certain time. Tree Assessment is always an educational prediction in ISA knowledge so far & ISA HK/China would always recommend a Tree Assessor to possess the basic knwoledge listed in our previous Station Mail (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2009/04/isa-hkchina-tree-assessment.html), & not just someone waving credentials. Many Arborists around the world have tried to quantify Tree Assessment but owing to the many factors which can affect the calculation & modeling, not one single method has been adopted by ISA so far to be a universal method for standardization, including the use of Detection Tools for Decay determination (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2009/04/isa-hkchina-2009-isa-research-on-tools.html).

The Station Manger recently became involved with a similar case of Tree Failure somewhere in Kowloon leading to a law suit for property damages. He has issued a +20 page Expert Witness Report on the incident to comment on responsibilities & liabilities of the opposite side. This just shows that there is always a legal risk involved in carrying out any Tree Assessment if the damages can not be settled between the two parties, & Arborist is frequently the tool to provide independent opinion on the incident.

Let's hope it would not be the case for this one.

2. Tree Failure in Repulse Bay (see below)

This appeared to be a typical case of the client wanting a 'flowering' tree to be grown in his/her compound & expected the tree roots to grow to the centre of the Earth to hold the tree against wind.

It can be seen from the photos given that there were hardly any roots adequate for anchorage, yet the tree had developed a full crown above to attract wind. Then when adequate wind pressure exerted on the crown, the tree body simply toppled over like a domino card.

In Arboriculture, we always say it is 'Mother Nature makes the Rules, not anybody' for Tree Planting. A tree may be planted there for 'flowering, scent or Instant Effect', but it will be Mother Nature to determine whether this tree is going to last, & would fail it when conditions are met.

Would the public be willing to listen to the Arborists gradually?

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

"Trees are good for the community. Trees need care like human beings. Arborists are the Tree Care Professionals."

淺水灣塌10米鳳凰木險壓學童

(x報)2009年9月12日 星期六

【x報專訊】毗鄰國際學校的港島淺水灣別墅，昨晨有一棵逾10米高的鳳凰木塌下，粗壯枝椏擊毁數輛薄餅店外賣電單車。附近保安員稱，事發前有學童行經，幸沒被壓倒，否則恐重演塌樹殺人慘劇。香港大學地理系講座教授詹志勇指大樹被埋在「層層疊」的石屎層中，令根部組織壞死，最終不勝負荷「齊口」折斷。

毗鄰國際校 兩學生剛行經

倒塌的鳳凰木逾10米高，樹幹直徑近一米，根部被直徑兩米的花崗岩包圍，植於淺水灣道78至80號的淺水灣別墅範圍內，屬私人管理樹木。屋苑保安員稱，該樹每年都有專人修剪樹椏和除蟲。街坊對大樹突然塌下深感可惜，但慶幸未有造成傷亡，「隔籬商場有一間國際學校，很多學前幼童上學，塌樹前就有兩個學生行過，好彩避得過，否則壓死人」。

事發昨晨9時許，巨大的鳳凰木突然向海灘道35號商場方向塌下，壓毁兩道鐵閘，數米長的樹椏擊向薄餅店的外賣電單車，車尾外賣箱被打穿。消防員到場搜索後證實無人受傷或被困。

學者﹕樹根埋石屎層 嚴重蛀蝕

現場所見，鳳凰木樹根連著花崗岩砌成的底座「齊口」折斷，中間露出一個近半米的樹洞。有「樹醫生」之稱的專家詹志勇看過相片後指出，該鳳凰木樹齡30多年，樹根已被真菌嚴重蛀蝕，雖然仍能維持表面的枝葉繁盛，但其生長環境十分惡劣，「塌下是遲早的事」。

他指出，樹根是埋在不同新舊的石屎層下，顯然是在不同年份有人用「一層又一層石屎疊上去」，卻令樹根埋在十分堅硬的泥土中，無法吸收養分和空氣，新根不長，老根被真菌蛀蝕，結果必會承受不了樹身重量塌下。

由政務司長唐英年統率的樹木管理專責委員會於今年6月發表報告，因私人財產受到《基本法》保障，故認為不宜立法監管私人土地上的樹木。詹志勇認為，「石屎封樹」在公共及私人場所均十分常見，容易發生意外，「最重要是種樹前考慮到樹木會長大，並訂出長遠計劃」。

放大
逾10米高的鳳凰木倒塌後，可見其底部與花崗岩砌成的底座一起「齊口」折斷。
放大
鳳凰木塌下，粗壯的樹椏折斷跌入圍牆後，數輛薄餅店外賣電單車被擊中損毁。

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (DP on Tree Law)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***

Dear Station Members,

Below is yet another piece of HK News re-asserting the cry for a local Tree Law to protect any tree from interference, even for those which are outside the lease control in current Land Regulation. In principle, the intention is all good for Tree Preservation in our territory.

On the other hand, ISA HK/China would draw our Station Member's attention to the following issues not mentioned but worth considering in the preparation of any Tree Law in HK:

1. By enacting a Tree Law to protect all trees (including private trees grown in private land), would it prevent the affected trees from intentional removal before the Law would come into effect? Would it really save our trees at the end instead of having them chopped off willingly for avoidance of supervision? Can we prevent this from happenning before the Law is enacted? How?

2. Would the public, especially those land owners in the rural areas, accept such a Law intending to deprive their ownership of their own trees? Would it lead to commotion among the rural public as seen with other interfering policies in the past? Would this disturb social harmony & what for?

3. What kind of control other than Tree Retention is going to be implemented for this future Tree Law? Who is going to decide whether a tree is to be retained, transplanted or felled? Arborists or somebody else? Have we not seen so many so-called 'trees', including bananas, bamboos & palms which live short & difficult to transplant, have been retained inappropriately in HK over the years? Who is going to accept liabilities if trees are retained incorrectly after so much public funding squandered?

4. Would the professionals making decision on Tree Retention be a neutral party with Integrity, Professionalism, with an attitude of Fact-finding & Truth-telling, or just someone who would write good to please the client for financial reward? What international standards are going to be used for making any decision? Would 'in-house' report, or an Independent Report from a Third Party without Conflict of Interest, be deemed acceptable?

5. Who is going to supervise the running of this proposed Tree Law? What kind of training is required as necessary for execution? Any Independent Tribunal for appeal?

6. If the retained tree eventually becomes a Time Bomb & kills somebody or causes property damages, who is the party going to undertake liabilities? Would it be the Tree Owner who is forced to retain the tree, or the Govt Agency enforcing the Law, or whom?

7. A retained tree will grow. In accordance with international practice, it will need to be maintained properly so that it can become an asset instead of a liability. We have seen too often that incorrect pruning has damaged many trees in HK, & a lot of urban trees have failed due to this. Who is then going to pay for this sustainable maintenance, with what standards of prqactice & supervision, & who will be qualified to carry out the work?

Above are just a string of technical & legal questions that the politicians would need to study & answer, before perhaps any Tree Law can be further conceived in HK. Otherwise, it would be like some of the current Technical Guidelines full of good intention but challenged continuously by the receiving end to make works slow & unsmooth. HK has seen too good wishes turned sour because of various reasons. Do we wish to see a repetition to happen for a future Tree Law as well?

The proposed Tree Law is likely to be one area that the the future Tree Management Office (TMO) is going to run into, or would be required to deal with, with skills, experience & research. ISA HK/China, through the mighty support of ISA from 50 countries in the past 85 years, will be willing to give the future TMO is helping hand, if we are ever asked to make our contribution.

For this we shall live up our word.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

"Trees are good for the community. Trees need care like human beings. Arborists are the Tree Care Professionals."


民主黨擬樹木法防濫伐
(x報)2009年8月31日

【x報專訊】民主黨甘乃威指出，現時部分私人地段的樹木不受保育樹木的條款管制，可以隨時遭砍伐或破壞，建議訂立《樹木法》防止事件發生，包括制定罰則、修剪或砍樹前須申請。該黨規劃師吳永輝則指出，現時罰則未具阻嚇性，建議把砍樹及破壞樹木等行為刑事化。

九成私地契沒保樹條款

發展局發言人回應，暫時以行政、公眾教育方法去保護樹木。吳永輝表示，80年代中期以前所批出的私人地契沒有保育樹木條款，無法阻止私人業主砍樹，雖然日後地契已加入條款，但估計現時約九成地契是在80年代中以前批出，即多數樹木不受保護。他又指就算是一些受管制不能隨意砍伐的樹木，例如在政府公地上的樹木，有機會以混凝土等方法遭人「毒害」，令樹木枯萎，他要求政府立法管制。

甘乃威擬10月提初稿

公民黨陳淑莊目前正草擬《樹木法》，民主黨亦會另擬《樹木法》，制訂罰則禁止在未授權下砍伐、移植、修剪、破壞樹木，除非已向有關部門申請。甘乃威希望10月會有私人草案初稿，屆時會與公民黨商討協調提出草案保護樹木。

放大
民主黨昨日在維園一棵古樹下舉行論壇，多名嘉賓批評現有法例未足保護樹木，包括現有保護樹木的政策未有法例支持。右一為民主黨甘乃威。

ISA HK/China --- Local 'Instant Effect' of Aug 2009

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***

Dear Station Members,

Attached are 3 counts of Tree Planting enquiries sent in by Station Members in the month of Aug 2009. We shall discuss the technical aspect of them as an education scenario only.

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1. Scan008

This event has been exposed by local newspaper already & much of HK has acknowledged the fact that this tree planting could not be regarded as something sustainable, but would rather be taken as a quick 'Instant Effect' to satisfy greenery requirement.

The species chosen is Cinnamomum burmanii, which would grow to +8 m tall with a crown spread of +8 m easily, if room can be allowed for upper ground & underground development. One of the trees so shown was already blown over by wind possibly due to lack of root anchorage, & staking did not appear possible for a growing pot of such narrow width to be effective. Also, the pot is unusually tall with a small diameter bottom to balance the tree in wind, & was probably used while expecting root growth to be downwards instead of sideway.

If the trees in these pots are allowed to mature in time, the Wind Sail Effect in the canopy is likely to topple them owing to the top heavy situation. For all the work & cost so spent in this tree planting, the Arborist could simply see no long term benefit but rather potent liabilities if it is allowed to stay.

2. Rooftop Planting in North NT

Form the photos so given & attached, this appears to be a case of Roof Top Planting in the name of 'Greening' taken to the extreme for another 'Instant Effect'. Quite possibly the developer did not realize that they are in effect putting a full range of Time Bombs on their houses for future headaches.

To start with, anyone wanting to put trees of such maturity on a roof top, has possibly ignored the fact that trees will grow. Even if the planter size is big enough to let this tree grow to a certain extent, then what about the Wing Loading thumping tons of wood up & down in future on a roof top to likely damage building structure & waterproofing? This may not happen instantly, but what about in a few year's time?

Also, the species chosen appeared to be Ficus benjamina which can grow to +20m tall & +20m wide. Even if the structure can support the future weight, then what about the huge canopy in future catching wind in case of a typhoon? Wind is passing at higher speed away from ground, & the higher it is, the stronger it becomes. Wind is the biggest enemy of tree & can we sacrifice safety for 'good looking' or 'cooling' for tree planting?

Does the whole thing make sense?

3. KLN Tong Tree Planting

It was said that the developer wanted to green the wall behind & therefore a row of fast growing trees (Ficus benjamina again) were installed for an 'Instant Effect' to add Greenery. The trees were planted approx. 1.5 m apart with canopies already touching each other, & the planter width did not exceed 0.6 m. Any sensible person can imagine what is going to happen there in 3 years time.

While the canopy of the Row Trees is going to spread into the driveway next to it, it may be pruned back constantly for traffic passage. Crown Raising to be combined with Topping are likely to be performed by those 'Specialist Contractors' if no Arborist supervision is required. Also, since the canopy overhanging the wall on the opposite side would require Tree Climbing to prune, this side may be left unpruned since it does not obstruct traffic. Then we may get a row of lob-sided trees to favour away from the Driveway. In wind, the whole row of trees may simply collapse, or damage the wall structure with roots pushing in all directions.

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Since the above information was received as recent as only this month, it simply shows how heavy the workload it will be for the future Tree Management Office (TMO) to correct Tree Malpractice all over HK. It is always true that while we try to prevent trees from becoming dangerous, we should not allow more trees to be planted to become Time Bombs in the name of 'Instant Effect' or 'good looking'. The future TMO has a duty to lead HK to plant safe trees, & monitoring Tree Planting Design is one way to ensure Quality Tree Planting. Any design not following international practice or scientific requirements, no matter in what name it says, should not be approved by the TMO for installation, or else we may repeat mistakes of the past. It is always mother Nature makes the Rules, not anybody for tree planting.

ISA HK/China has great faith in the future TMO to correct Tree Malpractice in HK, & for this we shall support the TMO to the last word always.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

"Trees are good for the community. Trees need care like human beings. Arborists are the Tree Care Professionals."