ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (CAHK's comments on OVT's)

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Dear Station Members,

Attached & below are recent Tree News published by the Media on the latest situation of some of our Old & Valuable Trees (OVT) in HK. The contents are self-explanatory & there is no need for this Station to put in additional comments.

Please kindly note Ken So of the Conversation Association of HK (CAHK) is an ISA CA/CTW & also a Proctor in our Station. We have every faith in him speaking out with Integrity, Professionalism & Participation with an attitude of fact-finding & truth-telling on our local tree affairs. Trees are the community centre of all wildlife on land & protecting trees is indeed protecting our environment.

This Station has also noted that CAHK has taken positive interest in our local tree affairs ever since Ken So joining in July. With Ken's experience & expertise, we can be sure that CAHK will be come more involved in commenting our local tree affairs with popular support.

Therefore, Ken, keep up the good work ! Fly our flag & protect our trees. You will have everybody's support if you are doing the right thing, openly or under.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

古樹枉稱王 九棵瀕作古誰來救它們？

本港樹王命危矣！本港九棵市區樹王，除九龍公園的細葉榕早前已倒塌外，其餘八棵原來亦百病叢生，不少古樹根部更呈現腐爛，至少三棵有倒塌危險，隨時造成人命傷亡，當中包括位於中區政府合署的紫檀樹，也未獲細心護理。長春社諷刺當局「連樹都管唔掂」，質疑如何管治社會。
長春社保育經理蘇國賢近日巡查九棵曾在九七年獲市民選為樹王的古樹，發現它們長年被不正當修剪，樹幹出現大大小小的傷口，部分甚至長出真菌，不少古樹的根部均被石屎填埋及車輛輾壓，已經嚴重腐爛，難抵風雨，隨時有倒塌危險。

合署名樹恐變朽木樹王慘遭蹂躪，當中又以位於皇龍道的細葉榕情況最危急。蘇國賢表示，該樹生長空間嚴重不足，樹根被迫長出馬路，不少更遭車輛輾至腐爛；九龍塘紫藤路的合歡樹及壽臣山道海洋公園附近的雨豆樹，樹根亦因被石屎覆蓋出現腐爛，未能抓住泥土令樹身傾斜。

中區政府合署入口的紫檀樹不但營養不良，部分樹枝出現腐爛情況後，被人以石屎填補。蘇指出，這種護理樹木方法非常落後，不但令樹枝無法長葉，石屎經歷長時間後，有剝落象，隨時擊中途人，極之危險。長春社公共事務經理李少文諷刺政府：「連自己地方古樹都管唔掂，仲點去管其他呢？」

九棵樹王皆名列政府於○四年設立的古樹名木冊，該冊原意為保育古樹，規定任何工程都不可砍伐名冊上的大樹，但有關制度透明度極低，只公開樹木的資料，但沒有披露其健康情況。據了解，名冊上最初有五百二十七棵古樹，近年中西區一棵血刺桐枯死被除名，當局亦沒有公布。長春社促請政府公開有關古樹保育的資料。康樂及文化事務署表示，已巡查過全港古樹，並為有問題的樹木進行護理，會再了解九棵樹王的情況。