ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Public Discontent on Tree Planting)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文 (http://translate.google.com.hk/?hl=en&tab=wT#enzh-CN)。
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Dear Station Members,

The Editorial of the largest newspaper in HK below describing the discontent of the Tree Exerts & Environmentalists on the Greening Issue may have been read by their 2 million-plus daily readers in our territory. This newspaper has also circulation in China today. English translation of the comments can be obtained from http://translate.google.com.hk/?hl=en&tab=wT#enzh-CN. ISA HK/China takes a neutral stance on this as our usual Station Policy.

However, if an international inquiry is opened on this (please note the word "international") after all the millions of public money spent, the followings may be the focal points of the investigation:

1. Objectives --- What are the objectives of the exercise & have they been achieved at the end? Any international standards or references followed or compared?

2. Methodology --- What international guidelines are followed? Any comparison with other international cities of similar situation? Who made the final decision on what to follow & how to follow? Are the decisions justified? Any independent committee without Conflict of Interest to overlook the event & who are in it? Is it just a pretty packaging without solid contents? Does it work & justify to international standards?

3. Results --- Are the results following the Objectives & Methodology? If not, why not? Any independent committee to comment on it, & who are in it? Are the results comparable to international requirements & to what standards & guidelines? Any comparison with places of similar situation, like the older parts of Singapore, Shenzhen & Guangzhou? Are the results aiming for "Instant Effect" or long term sustention? Any justification to comply international requirements?

4. Recommendations --- What can be done for correction, if the results are not desirable under the circumstances given? Who should be held responsible (we are not talking about penalty here, but the cold facts)? Are we looking for an effective solution or just something cosmetic? Who should be invited in to lead the correction & how? Who should be the one explaining the outcome to the public, politicians & media, to win their support?

Greening in HK lately appears to invite more attack than praise, after all the good intention & financial input in it. The public do not seem to appreciate that they are getting the value for money. There must be a reason for it & it must be resolved for support. Lucky that ISA HK/China has never been involved in it officially for once.

May the Greening in HK not become as political as the other social issues in HK any further.

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."

探射燈：政府種錯樹 嘥錢害街坊

本港每年用於綠化開支逾二億元，過去五年，各政府部門合共種植了五千五百萬棵植物。市區雖林蔭處處，惟本報發現樹木錯種的情況卻比比皆是，其中重逾三噸的王棕種於馬路中線，粗壯的垂葉榕又被「困」於花盆，一旦巨樹塌下，隨時造成人命傷亡；而貴樹錯種的情況亦俯拾皆是，昂貴的龍柏被置於路中心成「吸塵機」，樹黑葉黃，枯死之期不遠。樹木專家及環保人士直指，本港雖成立「樹木辦」，卻欠缺保護樹木法例，部門頓成紙板公仔，在欠缺協調及規劃下，公帑只會繼續浪費，還「種下害人惡果」。

彌敦道中線花槽種植的龍柏價錢昂貴，卻長期受着車輛噴出廢氣及熱氣摧殘。

近年政府致力綠化，惟種樹不得其法，致出現「前人種樹，後人當災」情況。灣仔告士打道馬路中線的花槽種了三十五棵王棕，每棵有如三、四層樓高，且樹幹粗壯需兩人才能環抱，每棵重量估計約達三、四噸，若不幸倒塌，巨樹兩旁的繁忙馬路，隨時有車輛當災，後果堪憂。事實上，隨着近年多次颱風襲港，花槽內的王棕已「買少見少」，約一米闊、百餘米長的花槽原可種植十棵王棕，但部分花槽現時只剩下一、兩棵，花槽上更可看到塌樹後被連根拔起的「洞穴」。
榕樹困花盆 不勝負荷

類似的「危險樹木」，在市區觸目皆是，筲箕灣巴士總站南安街休憩處，是區內長者乘涼消閒的好去處，惟休憩處內種有數棵約兩、三層樓高的垂葉榕，每棵均被困於一個不足一平方米的花盆裏，有樹根更爆盆而出，一旦花盆不勝負荷，坐於樹蔭下的長者輕則頭破血流「中頭獎」，重則被壓死街頭。

灣仔軒尼詩道中線花槽所種的狐尾椰子，樹葉已呈枯黃。

除了傷人危樹處處外，亦不乏種錯樹浪費公帑的例子。當局去年於九龍彌敦道及灣仔駱克道馬路中線的花槽新植了一排龍柏，惟記者發現彌敦道一帶近巴士站的龍柏已被廢氣熏至漆黑，部分近根部的樹葉更呈枯黃，而襯托龍柏的綠蘿（俗稱萬年青）更變得焦黑。經常坐巴士路經上址的張太大替植物可惜，「啲龍柏好貴㗎，依家畀人擺喺路中心，日日咁多車經過，熏到黑麻麻，真係嘥錢！」
此外，當局去年亦花費逾九十萬元，在灣仔軒尼詩道中線的花槽新種有八十三棵狐尾椰子及其他植物，惟每棵狐尾椰子樹形瘦弱，大部分樹葉更出現枯萎，明顯已經呈現病態，令人擔心。

筲箕灣巴士總站的南安街休憩處種有多盆垂葉榕，樹蔭下常有不少長者乘涼。

告士打道中線花槽的王棕，部分被風吹倒，顯得疏落。


須制訂措施 加強培訓

發展局發言人表示，政府一直積極推廣綠化，透過多元化綠化方式，包括制訂及推行綠化總綱圖，在路旁、休憩用地行人天橋及斜坡進行綠化。發言人又稱，該局於去年六月肩負有關綠化、園景及樹木管理的整體政策責任，並於今年三月成立綠化、園景及樹木管理組，倡導在綠化、園景及樹木管理方面的策略性政策方向和推展措施，而綠化工程則由個別工程倡議部門推展。
發言人指出，在計劃種植樹木時，各種植部門會以「適地適樹」的原則選擇合適樹木品種，而負責綠化、園景設計及樹木護養的人員及園景師職系人員，均具備相關專業和經驗，部分人員亦具國際樹藝學會註冊樹藝師資歷。此外，綠化、園景及樹木管理組已成立培訓委員會，檢討負責綠化及樹木護養工作的各政府部門現行培訓策略，並制訂措施，加強培訓。

仇小姐：我覺得依家種樹都唔夠，好多地方都光禿禿，政府有時鍾意就呢度種一棵嗰度種一棵，真係幾嘥納稅人啲錢。

黃小姐：我住喺郊區，嗰度有好多樹，空氣會清新啲，但係喺市區，人多車多，空氣好混濁，應該種多啲花花草草去改善一吓。