ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Tree Failure in Tsuen Wan)

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Dear Station Members,

The newspaper cutting below described how a suspected Araucaria tree had toppled & damaged a Community Centre next to it. The tree was suspected to have Termite Attack from other sources.

ISA HK/China is not interested in the administration & liabilities of this event. However, it should be of interest to our 1,500+ Station Members in the followings:

1. Tree Failure can happen anytime of the year & not confined to rainy seasons. It has been dry for nearly a month before the above incident occurred. Tree Inspection should take care of this & not focusing in the rainy seasons only.

2. Araucaria species appear to be associated frequently with Termite Attack. There have been previous reports & research of this happening. Termites appear to enter the interior trunk of the Araucarias from underground, leaving little visible sign on the exposed surfaces. This is something the Tree Inspector should pay attention to during the inspection.

3. Araucaria species would grow long & slender to 20+ m height over the years. It will appear like a flag pole to catch wind in the sky. Adequate room must be allowed for its root anchorage, or Mother Nature makes the Rules. Araucarias have been planted in their hundreds of thousands as landscaping trees all over HK in the past. Many have reached maturity already.

For those Araucarias grown in confined space, they may gradually turn into Time Bombs. Little have been published in their Wind Stability in confined growth. We are just not sure how safe they will develop in our territory over time.

May the Good Lord now have mercy over our Araucarias in our territory over time, & may our "Tree Assessors" spot their risks, before another bigger incident would occur.

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."


塌樹毀屋 樹木辦又塞責

【本報訊】荃灣一棵約七十呎高大樹，三日前已被居民發現有危險，向「樹木辦」求助，但一直未見派員跟進，至前晚大樹折斷塌下，擊穿鄰近社區中心屋頂險傷人，幸一批正學電腦的小童及導師剛放學逃過一劫。有居民投訴事發後致電樹木辦，但職員只着他報警，有敷衍塞責之嫌。

現場為老圍路永華臺對開，植有多棵樹木。前晚十時許，其中一棵大樹直徑約兩呎樹幹的底部折斷塌下，擊穿旁邊聖公會麥理浩夫人中心的屋頂，出現一個約三呎乘三呎大窿，假天花亦被砸毀，鋁製框架及碎片飛跌屋內。

社區中心小童避劫

該中心於事發前剛有數名小童由兩名導師指導學電腦，幸塌樹時剛放學，而兩名導師正離開中心，就在出門不久，身後傳來巨響，始知塌樹。

永華臺一名姓黃住客稱，早於上周四早上，因發現該棵大樹疑受白蟻蛀蝕出現危險，透過政府熱線「1823」通知有關部門，至前晨接獲樹木辦回覆將派員到來了解，但一直未見有關人員到場。

黃稱在塌樹後再致電樹木辦，但職員着他報警處理，黃認為對方有卸責之嫌，又指永華臺外其實亦有數棵樹木有危機，他早前已聯絡過當局，但未見處理。記者向樹木辦查詢，但至截稿時仍未接獲回覆。