IS AHK/China --- Independency of Arborist Report

*** 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,

This Station Mail is selectively circulated to Certified Arborists (CA), Landscape Professionals & VIP's in our Station for their information & knowledge. Details on client, location & Arborist Report are not disclosed for privacy reason except for the photos which are the possession of the Station Manager himself. This Station Mail is meant to be an academic discussion for anyone interested in the Arborist Profession only.

The Station Manager was called out to inspect & to provide recommendation for a mature tree in HK Island on 11.8.08 in the position of an Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) to give a third party comment. An Arborist Report was required. At that time, there was strong sentiment among the client to retain this historic tree which appeared to be one of the first brought in by the British during colonial time. It would have been a beautiful tree if it was not damaged in an earlier typhoon. This tree was previously inspected by several contractors & some recommended 'protection measures' like propping & guying to retain this mature tree.

Upon Tree Inspection with Tree Climbing to assess the remaining parts of the tree, the decision was made by the Station Manager to remove this tree instantly because in his opinion, this tree was about to fall anytime. The client was hesitating on the decision during site inspection & some members of the client also expressed sadness if this tree was to be removed. However, the Station Manager stood firm in his decision.

The Arborist Report was submitted to the client with recommendation for removal two days after the inspection. Just while the client was looking around for a contractor to remove this tree under Arborist supervision due to the dangers involved, this tree snapped clean to fall in the early morning of yesterday. Luckily no one was hurt & property damage was minor.

This is a strong case of independency of Arborist Work especially when it comes to reporting. The Arborist, especially if practicing independently, must not be influenced by anybody's interest & must be Fact-finding & Truth-telling. Arborsits in ISA HK/China have all agreed to the Station Principles of Integrity, Professionalism, Participation, Fact-finding & Truth-telling. Any breach may lead to termination & this Arborist will lose group support to become a lone wolf. This may be the harshest punishment any Arborist can get in our territory.

There are so many mature trees in our parks, housing estates, roads, schools, hospitals & public places nowadays. Arborist Reports may become more frequent for our CA whether in-house or self-practicing. The Arborist Profession is strongly scientific in that National Standards & ISA Guidelines are the basis of producing Arborist Reports. In the case of a Court challenge, any discrepancies with practicing standards can be easily disclosed by a more experienced & stronger Arborist on the opposite side. It is therefore our recommendation that any Arborist Report must be written independently without bias to favour any Dept or employer so that any future challenge can be minimized.

We hope the above information can be useful to our readers & for those who would like to go into practicing.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

Trees are good for the community. Trees need care just like human beings. Arborists are the Tree Care Professionals. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)

ISA HK/China --- Reply on Tree Transplanting issue to an Environmentalist

*** 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 Mr. Lo,

Thank you for your thoughtful message.

ISA HK/China, as known to the world & as to follow ISA (www.isa-arbor.com) policies, is a research & education organization to promote proper arboriculture & the benefits of trees in our community. We are always impartial in our comments & do not get involved with any political discussion. However, part of your message involved Tree Care (tree transplanting) & we would like to provide our views as an Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) for the information of laymen.

With regard to any decision on proper tree transplant, on the ground of technical consideration, we would recommend an IPA to be employed to give a professional & third party study on the structure & health of the tree in concern, & not merely on age, maturity or rarity. Transplanting any hazardous tree is equivalent to planting a Time Bomb in our city. HK has frequently used Horticulturists to do Tree Survey but it is known internationally that they are not the genuine Tree Experts. Arborists are the recognized Tree Care Specialist around the world & they are trained to inspect trees.

After the Tree Inspection by the IPA, an Arborist Report with recommendation on whether the tree should be retained, removed or transplanted is to be produced. The IPA will bear the legal & professional responsibilities of the work & will take the liabilities to explain to the public for his/her decision.

IPA is defined by ISA HK/China to be someone with the following abilities:

1. A Certified Arborist who has hold the credential for at least 3 years & has re-certified at least once.

2. Simultaneously holding the Certified Tree Worker (CTW) credential to ensure knowledge & experience in carrying out proper tree work.

3. Has joined ISA International Conference at least once to ensure networking with global Arborists.

4. Possessing 'O' Level in English Laws or equivalent to ensure basic legal knowledge.

5. Possessing 'A' Level in English Language to ensure communication skills.

6. Has successfully produced Arborist Report a minimum of 3 times to ensure his practical working experience.

IPA is the pinnacle of the Arborist Profession & is capable to provide independent opinion on Tree Survey & any Tree Care practices.

Thank you for your message to us & we look forward Tree Care to be in the right hand in HK, & in the rest of our territory which includes Macau, Taiwan & China soonest.

with best regards,

Sammy Au
ISA HK/China Station Manager
http://isahkchina.blogspot.com






----- Original Message -----
From: Lo Tung Lo
To: btang@aud.gov.hk ; dlcsoffice@lcsd.gov.hk ; ayscheung@lcsd.gov.hk ; wingsleung@lcsd.gov.hk ; mailbox@afcd.gov.hk ; cary_ph_ho@afcd.gov.hk ; yk_chan@afcd.gov.hk ; pk_chan@afcd.gov.hk ; landsd@landsd.gov.hk ; ddg@landsd.gov.hk ; ceshq@landsd.gov.hk ; cswai@hyd.gov.hk ; sla3.lu@hyd.gov.hk ; sla1.lu@hyd.gov.hk ; sla2.lu@hyd.gov.hk ; yuech@archsd.gov.hk ; ault@archsd.gov.hk ; wongv@archsd.gov.hk ; lewisah@archsd.gov.hk ; pi@legco.gov.hk ; rctho@capitalchina.com ; contact@alanleong.net ; info@liwahming.org.hk ; selina@selinachow.com ; jkstolegco@gmail.com ; yuenhan@ftulegco.org.hk ; bernie@bernardchan.com ; kamlamchan2004@yahoo.com.hk ; cksin@sinchungkai.org.hk ; az3286pw@netvigator.com ; jet@dab.org.hk ; howardyoung_legco@yahoo.com.hk ; kwlau@dab.org.hk ; miriamlau@liberal.org.hk ; elau@frontier.org.hk ; sychoy@pacific.net.hk ; chengkarfoo@dphk.org ; ttfok@netvigator.com ; arazack@netvigator.com ; albert.wychan@yahoo.com.hk ; kwaifong56@yahoo.com.hk ; kyli@dab.org.hk ; kkk@kkkwok.org ; hokming@ntas.org ; patricklau@gmail.com ; contactus@mandytam.com
Cc: lotunglo@yahoo.com.hk ; cahk@cahk.org.hk ; info@greensense.org.hk ; egc@netvigator.com ; secretary@hkila.com ; pcwtsang@lcsd.gov.hk ; jnytam@lcsd.gov.hk ; bmpcheung@lcsd.gov.hk ; lwscheung@lcsd.gov.hk ; ewlchoi@lcsd.gov.hk ; akcho@lcsd.gov.hk ; sslho@lcsd.gov.hk ; cyoho@lcsd.gov.hk ; pyhkan@lcsd.gov.hk ; tmtlau@lcsd.gov.hk ; tyhsuen@lcsd.gov.hk ; gcfwong@lcsd.gov.hk ; tmkwong@lcsd.gov.hk ; hnmwong@lcsd.gov.hk ; hab1@hab.gov.hk

Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 1:05 AM

Subject: 是保育樹木，還是浪費公帑？ - 胡亂移植樹木將製造更多危險樹木!

續本人於本年四月發給各部門及各大傳媒的電郵.

就近日赤柱塌樹意外,本人有必要再次向各部門(尤其是康文署)提出嚴正忠告.

要是部門繼續以高層(EO, AO)的喜好/指令視為政策,而輕視專業人士(包括部門內的專業/技術人員,及獨立的學者/專業人士)的意見,包括古樹及移植的樹木在內,未來將可能發生更多類似的悲劇發生.

EO, AO大多不是有專業樹木知識的人士,可是他們的一句指令(如"零斬樹","全部移植"等等),足以令很多不宜移植的樹木被搬,而下層公務員因不敢有違上層的[政策]也只好照跟(縱使明知是錯).由於部份移植的樹木結構差,移植後可能隨時倒下(見早前來函/即附件).

古樹名木是香港人的珍貴財產,必須適當保護.但同樣,為了一個[古樹名木]的名,而勉強保留著一棵危險的樹(最終倒榻),政策就等於免死金牌,下層公務員則不敢挻身而出發出警告,最終就釀成悲劇.

今次事件後,市民另一擔心可能是: 若繼續以過往的處事方式去辦事,為免出問題,或許會令提名新的古樹名木之難度大增 - 這亦未必是我們的願望!

政策是死的, 人是生的!

赤柱的塌樹是不幸,但是否純屬意外,則大有疑問,希望調查報告可以如實地作出交代!

Lo Tung

cc.
(見下文),另,
康樂文化事務署/策劃事務
民政事務局

--- 2008年4月26日 星期六，Lo Tung Lo <lotunglo@yahoo.com.hk> 寫道﹕

寄件人: Lo Tung Lo <lotunglo@yahoo.com.hk>

主題: 是保育樹木，還是浪費公帑？

收件人: btang@aud.gov.hk, dlcsoffice@lcsd.gov.hk, ayscheung@lcsd.gov.hk, wingsleung@lcsd.gov.hk, mailbox@afcd.gov.hk, cary_ph_ho@afcd.gov.hk, yk_chan@afcd.gov.hk, pk_chan@afcd.gov.hk, landsd@landsd.gov.hk, ddg@landsd.gov.hk, ceshq@landsd.gov.hk, cswai@hyd.gov.hk, sla3.lu@hyd.gov..hk, sla1.lu@hyd.gov.hk, sla2.lu@hyd.gov.hk, yuech@archsd.gov.hk, ault@archsd.gov.hk, wongv@archsd.gov.hk, lewisah@archsd.gov.hk, pi@legco.gov.hk, rctho@capitalchina.com, contact@alanleong.net, info@liwahming.org.hk, selina@selinachow.com, jkstolegco@gmail.com, yuenhan@ftulegco.org.hk, bernie@bernardchan.com, kamlamchan2004@yahoo.com.hk, cksin@sinchungkai.org.hk, az3286pw@netvigator.com, jet@dab.org.hk, howardyoung_legco@yahoo.com.hk, kwlau@dab.org.hk, miriamlau@liberal.org.hk, elau@frontier.org.hk, sychoy@pacific.net.hk, chengkarfoo@dphk.org, ttfok@netvigator.com, arazack@netvigator.com, albert.wychan@yahoo.com.hk, kwaifong56@yahoo.com.hk, kyli@dab.org.hk, kkk@kkkwok.org, hokming@ntas.org, patricklau@gmail.com, contactus@mandytam.com

副本(CC): lotunglo@yahoo.com.hk, cahk@cahk.org.hk, info@greensense.org.hk, egc@netvigator.com, secretary@hkila.com

日期: 2008 4 26 星期六 上午 11:10

信件內容見附件.

此文件致：

審計署　署長　鄧國斌先生　btang@aud.gov.hk
康樂文化事務署　署長 周達明先生　dlcsoffice@lcsd.gov.hk
康樂文化事務署　康樂事務經理(樹木及園景)香港　張裕生先生　ayscheung@lcsd.gov.hk
康樂文化事務署　康樂事務經理(樹木及園景)九龍　梁永生先生　wingsleung@lcsd.gov.hk
漁農自然保理署　署長　mailbox@afcd.gov.hk
漁農自然保理署　高級自然護理主任(南)　 何秉皓先生　cary_ph_ho@afcd.gov.hk
漁農自然保理署　高級自然護理主任（北）　陳耀強先生　yk_chan@afcd.gov.hk
漁農自然保理署　高級自然護理主任（中區）　陳炳光先生　pk_chan@afcd.gov.hk
地政總署　署長　譚贛蘭女士　landsd@landsd.gov.hk
地政總署　地政總署副署長(一般事務)(地政處總部)　 梁玉書先生　ddg@landsd.gov.hk
地政總署　總產業測量師(地政處/總部)　 陳永堅先生　ceshq@landsd.gov.hk
路政署　署長　韋志成先生　cswai@hyd.gov.hk
路政署　高級園境師3　 張美馨女士　 sla3.lu@hyd.gov.hk
路政署　高級園境師1　 梁錦鴻先生 　 sla1.lu@hyd.gov.hk
路政署　高級園境師2　 郭德泰先生 　 sla2.lu@hyd.gov.hk
建築署　署長　余熾鏗先生　yuech@archsd.gov.hk
建築署　高級園境師/4　區李婷女士　ault@archsd.gov.hk
建築署　高級園境師/2　黃秋雲女士　wongv@archsd.gov.hk
建築署　高級園境師/3　盧偉思先生 　lewisah@archsd.gov.hk
立法會工務小組委員會－
秘書： 馬海櫻女士 pi@legco.gov.hk
委員： 何鍾泰議員rctho@capitalchina.com、 梁家傑議員contact@alanleong.net、
李華明議員info@liwahming.org.hk、 周梁淑怡議員selina@selinachow.com、
涂謹申議員jkstolegco@gmail.com、 陳婉嫻議員yuenhan@ftulegco.org.hk、
陳智思議員bernie@bernardchan.com、 陳鑑林議員kamlamchan2004@yahoo.com.hk、
單仲偕議員cksin@sinchungkai.org.hk、 黃宜弘議員az3286pw@netvigator.com、
曾鈺成議員jet@dab.org.hk、 楊孝華議員howardyoung_legco@yahoo.com.hk、
劉江華議員kwlau@dab.org.hk、 劉皇發議員 c/o 委員會秘書、
劉健儀議員miriamlau@liberal.org.hk、 劉慧卿議員elau@frontier.org.hk、
蔡素玉議員sychoy@pacific.net.hk、 鄭家富議員chengkarfoo@dphk.org、
霍震霆議員ttfok@netvigator.com、 石禮謙議員arazack@netvigator.com、
陳偉業議員albert.wychan@yahoo.com.hk、李永達議員kwaifong56@yahoo.com.hk、
李國英議員kyli@dab.org.hk、 林偉強議員 c/o 委員會秘書、
郭家麒議員kkk@kkkwok.org、 張學明議員hokming@ntas.org、
劉秀成議員patricklau@gmail.com、 譚香文議員contactus@mandytam.com

副本送：

長春社 蘇國賢先生　cahk@cahk.org.hk
環保觸覺　info@greensense.org.hk
國際樹藝學會香港分部　egc@netvigator.com
香港園境師學會　secretary@hkila.com
各園境顧問公司 c/o 香港園境師學會

亞洲電視新聞部 news@atv.com.hk
無電視新聞部 news@tvb.com.hk
有線電視新聞部 story@cabletv.com.hk
香港電台 cnews@rthk.org.hk
蘋果日報 news@appledaily.com
太陽報 news@the-sun.com.hk
東方日報 news@oriental.com.hk
星島日報 info@singtao.com
明報 inews@mingpao.com
成報 dailynews@singpao.com.hk
文匯報 editor@wenweipo.com
大公報 dgw_editor@163.com
SCMP quinton.chan@scmp.com
The Standard editor@thestandard.com.hk
AM730 chiefeditor@am730.com.hk
頭條日報 editorial@hkheadline.com
都市日報 news@metrohk.com.hk

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ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Tree Failure in Stanley causing Fatality)

*** 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,

This Station has received enough messages & phone calls to demand a Station Mail on the hot topic of the killing Erythrina in Stanley on 27.8.08 from Station Members & media. Please kindly note ISA HK/China is a research & education organization only. We do not take side for anybody, & the information given in this Station Mail will take the attitude of an Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) to be impartial, fact-finding & truth-telling under the details gathered by this Station.

Before anything else, ISA HK/China would like to mourn the victim of the event with grief, who was a 19 year old fair lady having a bright future ahead of her. We wish to offer our deepest condolence to her family & pray for her soul to rest in peace in heaven.

It must also be stated that the Station Manager issuing this Station Mail has not been on site, & has never seen or touched this fallen tree before the failure. Therefore, anything written down here would come from media reports only & shall be deemed as invalid for any legal or professional investigation.

From information gathered so far, it appeared that this tree failed on a calm sunny afternoon without warning to hit the passing crowd underneath causing fatality. This tree was claimed to have been inspected by a Govt Dept only a few days before the failure. It was also said to have undergone Tomograph for decay, & was quoted with result as 'acceptable'.

The remaining parts of the fallen tree were quickly removed for any post-mortem investigation. Without such, it would be hard to study the failed portion & to determine whether the branch was failing out of heavy end-weight, or from an internal decay with crack development eventually leading to breakage. Post-mortem is vital to assess the cause of the failure & without such, much of the comments here would become guesswork & IPA must not guess but state from facts.

Wind damage might not be a direct cause for the branch breakage as the weather during the failure was sunny & calm. Tree Experts suspected Erythrina Gall Wasps had weakened the tree but again, shell thickness would need to be determined against end weight & tree structure. Decay development, internal cracks, canker damage & branch structure would all need to be assessed for a probable explanation. Any of the above would require measurement of the tree before failure & after failure. It would be like forensic experts examining a murder case. Playing Tree Detective is part of IPA work.

Therefore, in view of the lack of measurements & technical details before & after the failure, for any responsible IPA, no conclusion regarding the cause of the failure can be easily drawn except this tree had failed in an unexpected circumstance. This Station is very sure that no Govt Dept in any civilized world would like to see a tree to fail to kill a civilian. Whether the incident involved Negligence or not, it would be up to the Court to decide.

While we mourn the deceased with pain, we may at the same time need to look for the future to avoid similar incident. Our Tree Professionals may wish to remind our authorities to divert extra resources to pick out those Mature Trees which have turned into Time Bombs already in our city. IPA may be deployed to provide third party opinion to explain to the public. More work will need to be done.

ISA HK/China does not look forward to issue Station Mail of this kind with grief, & sincerely wish our trees can be our assets instead of liabilities in our loving city.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)

赤柱樹王「解體」擊殺女大學生

(星島)8月28日 星期四 05:30

(星島日報 報道)赤柱 昨午發生巨樹倒塌殺人慘劇，一棵屹立赤柱大街逾百年樹王「刺桐」，疑被真菌侵蛀，病入膏肓，不時傳出臭味，颱風「鸚鵡」襲港後，康文署 亦曾到場檢驗，未有任何發現，豈料事隔四天，該樹突解體倒塌，約一噸重樹幹，壓中一名與男友人逛街的十九歲醫生世家少女，當場爆頭吐血慘死，另兩名女童手腳受傷。

　　百年樹王倒塌，釀成一死兩傷。慘死少女莊頌賢（十九歲），出身杏林世家，就讀本港一所著名大學，父及姊皆為醫生，其姊在東區醫院 當值，目送胞妹送院不治，不禁傷心欲絕；至於兩傷者是一對表姊妹，分別姓黃（十二歲），姓蔡（十一歲）。

　　兩小孩逃厄運僅輕傷

　　負責保育肇事樹王的康文署，晚上在記者會上向死傷者及其家屬致歉，並通宵鋸走塌剩的其餘一半樹幹，及查勘附近其他大樹，以防慘劇重演。

　　倒塌大樹為一棵樹齡超過一世紀的刺桐，屹立赤柱大街二十六號新城樓對開路中心，是康民文古樹名冊中全港五棵刺桐古樹之一，高約二十三米，樹幹粗約一點五米。

　　街坊稱，樹王約在兩年前開始，疑被蟲蛀及真菌侵蝕「生病」，樹幹穿洞及發臭，曾要求鋸走被拒，康文署上月曾派員查勘，至上周六颱風「鸚鵡」襲港後，康文署亦曾派人到場檢驗。

　　逾百歲刺桐高23米

　　昨午四時許，莊女與男友到赤柱市集觀光閒逛，據目擊者稱，當時途人熙來攘往，莊女與男友，面向樹王而行，兩名黃姓、蔡姓表姊妹則隨着黃母，背向樹王而行。

　　詎料，樹王在毫無先兆下突然倒塌，樹身由中間斷裂、從上而下斷為兩截，其中一截高約五、六層樓的樹幹，在底部斷開倒下，恍如「泰山壓頂」倒下。

　　途人驚聞「嘞……嘞……」聲響，抬頭仰望，驚覺大樹倒塌，連忙大叫「冧樹呀，走呀」，十多名路人爭相逃命，但莊女走避不及，被重約一噸的樹幹打中頭部，當場頭破血流，重傷吐血昏迷，壓在樹幹下奄奄一息，其男友雖逃過大難，亦被嚇至目瞪口呆。

　　少女爆頭 吐血昏迷

　　兩名表姊妹亦被塌下的樹枝擦傷手部及腳部，樹幹倒下時亦擊毀兩旁多間店鋪簷篷及帳簿，以及一住宅的窗門玻璃，發出「嘭、嘭」巨響，樹幹着地再斷裂，樹枝、樹葉及樹幹覆蓋整條路面，雜物散布四周，情況混亂，街坊報警，一名外籍男遊客及多名途人跑來協助搶救，附近一間診所一名仁醫及護士亦趕來救人。

　　身旁男友 目瞪口呆

　　警方與消防員趕至，合力抬起已斷開樹幹，救出被壓重傷莊女，由救護員急送東區醫院搶救，其男友及仁醫亦陪同送院，仁醫在途中繼續搶救她，但莊女送抵院後證實不治，兩名受傷表姊妹，送院治理後出院。

　　警方封鎖現場調查，康文署人員鋸斷樹幹，將樹木及樹葉運走，晚上在塌剩的半截樹幹旁蓋搭鐵架，準備通宵將仍屹立未倒的半截樹幹鋸下。
　　
赤柱百年老樹殺準港大生 康文署上月底列狀况「可接受」 5天前檢查無異樣

(明報)8月28日 星期四 05:10

【明報專訊】赤柱 大街一棵收錄在古樹名冊的百年刺桐，5天前經康文署 人員檢視證實狀况正常後，昨午在毫無先兆下突然倒塌，變成「殺人樹」。事發時，23米高的樹幹和樹枝如死神魔爪般直撲路面，粗壯樹椏擊向一名生於醫護世家兼為準港大生的19歲少女，事主頭部大量流血當場昏迷。附近一名醫生聯同一名護士趕至，立即替傷者急救並陪同送院。少女送抵東區醫院 時，在院內工作的姊姊已趕來相迎，惜摯親最終不治。事件中另有兩名女童遭樹枝擦傷手臂，並無大礙。

醫生之女 聖保祿畢業

被樹壓死的19歲少女莊頌賢（洋名Kitty），在銅鑼灣 聖保祿學校畢業；其父為執業20多年的內科醫生莊堅琪，胞姊任醫護人員。莊女已獲香港大學 取錄為經濟及金融系新生，8月5至7日到港大出席迎新營。其師兄表示，Kitty為人叻女、聰明活潑，僅認識幾天已與大家打成一片，眾人聞噩耗後十分傷感。至於受傷的兩名女童分別姓黃（12歲）及姓蔡（11歲），敷治後出院。

塌下的刺桐位於赤柱大街26號，樹身呈「Y」字形，高約23米，據悉早年枝葉茂盛，近年有蟲患而致枝萎，多名區議員表示，2006年接到居民投訴，指樹身傳出惡臭，已將問題向康文署反映。長春社保育經理兼康文署樹木專家小組成員蘇國賢稱，去年底曾檢視該棵刺桐，當時已發現樹身受害蟲「姬小蜂」入侵，當時已向康文署提出，詎料終釀成悲劇。

兩年前刺桐發臭 樹身發現動物遺留物

康文署長周達明承認年多前曾收到關於該棵刺桐的投訴，當時發現有動物遺留下的東西，但洗樹後，近期並無有關臭味的投訴。該署的專家小組亦沒有提出要移走該棵樹的建議。

周達明對事件表示極度悲痛，並向死者家屬致以深切慰問，會循既定機制處理賠償問題。他指出，塌下的刺桐已被列入古樹名冊，每半年會詳細檢查一次，每星期亦會巡查。當局今年7月31日為其做聲納檢測時，發現樹身狀態屬「可接受」（acceptable）。早前颱風襲港後，職員上周六（5天前）曾巡視過大樹情况，沒有斷枝或異常落葉，未有發現倒塌危機。

周達明說，署方將成立專家小組深入調查，當中有外界樹木專家參與。而目前本港有逾500棵古樹，局方會於未來一個月集中資源作詳細勘查。

事發於昨午4時32分，莊女與男友人到赤柱閒逛，兩人走到赤柱大街12號對開時，刺桐樹突迎面塌下，莊女頭部被樹枝重擊，身體被大量枝椏重壓，站在旁邊簷篷的朋友無受傷，但看到莊女頭部大量流血即時呼救。數米外的兩名女童亦被樹枝割傷。塌樹後，多名途人爭相走避，現場一度出現恐慌氣氛，有人即時到數十米外的赤柱公立醫局求救，一名醫生帶同護士趕至，連同消防員跨過樹木殘枝，即時為莊女做心外壓急救，其後更陪同傷者送院，莊女的男友人亦有同行。

莊女送抵東區醫院時，其姊姊站在救護車前，焦急地呼籲傳媒讓路，高叫「唔好阻住搶救生命」。傷者被送往急救後，其姊雖一臉焦急，但仍安慰妹妺的男友人「你唔好自己怪自己」，惟莊女於下午5時42分證實不治。匆匆趕來的莊母得悉喪女噩耗，傷心痛哭，要由親友攙扶。

ISA HK/China --- IPA concept approval

*** 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,

ISA HK/China wishes to thank all those who have sent in feedback on the Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) concept mentioned below. Some have even copied their feedback all the way to ISA HQ to make sure that their views are noticed. We wish to thank them all indeed.

By now, this Station can safely say that the IPA concept is receiving an overwhelming support from our Station Members. Among all feedback received, all have given approval for the IPA concept with the exception of one. It is likely that the IPA system will go ahead in the near future in our territory.

It is important to understand that the IPA system is not designed only for HK, but also for the greater part of our territory which includes Macau, Taiwan & China. The IPA concept incorporates knowledge, practical skills, working experience, international networking & communication ability. It is known that China operates a very different landscape system to HK & they may claim that they have hundreds of thousands of Tree Experts in their Govt & Universities. However, it would be difficult for them to say the same that they also have an equivalent of IPA when they meet us. IPA would give ISA HK/China an edge to penetrate into China & be respected when promote ISA arboriculture there. This was proven in our initial contacts with the Chinese officials so far.

It is also worth noticing that In the IPA requirement, the Certified Tree Worker (CTW) credential is not just all about tree climbing like some of our Station Members have acknowledged. As listed in the CTW exam requirement in ISA, the written part of the CTW exam tests for pruning, removal, cabling and safety. Chainsaw uses is also part of the knowledge requirement in the CTW credential. The practical part of the CTW exam also tests for Tree Inspection & Risk Assessment in front of a real tree before the climb. The CTW credential tests for basic knowledge & skills of Tree Work in a realistic environment, which is something an IPA is deemed to possess.

Even among a general approval for the IPA system in HK, this Station has the following consideration & comments before implementing the IPA system:

1. The IPA system is aimed for those CA who wishes to go into self-practice only. Those who do not, need not bother with IPA.

2. The IPA system will wait for until at least 50 no. of our CA has re-certified. This is expected to be within a year or two when more of our current CA have expired the 3 year validity. We also need to give all those who are interested time to take their CTW & attend ISA International Conferences for internatinal networking.

3. The IPA system will take the form of voluntary registration in ISA HK/China. Those who meets the requirements will join a short list of IPA which will be distributed to anybody interested to contact an IPA. This list will be updated from time to time to maintain freshness.

4. The IPA system will go through a Station vote before implementation later.

5. Anyone can call himself/herself an IPA at present, although ISA HK/China would provide recommendation of requirements to anyone enquiring, & the IPA will face his/her own consequence alone once contracted.

We expect our future IPA to stand strong & respected in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. HK has always been our testing ground for developing ISA Arboriculture with her western civilization & legal system so far. However, HK is only known to be a dot in Greater China & our vision is not limited to just HK alone. At present, China has over 900 cities with size & population comparable to HK. China also has countless billions of trees. ISA HK/China has set our eyes for Greater China & have already met initial successes in our contacts up there. The Chinese have so far loved us like missing relatives in every meeting & have promised to put up seminars, tree climbing demonstration & even a parade with our climbers in full gears to flash around the audience in their Flower Shows. The initial welcome there have been most encouraging. We must carry on the steam.

With now China starting up much more enthusiastic than HK a few years ago, would ISA HK/China not pay attention to this much bigger & greener market, where Arborists are warmly welcomed?

Thank you all again for your good support & ISA HK/China will bring you new heights in China very soon.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (www.isa-arbor.com)

ISA HK/China --- CICTA BLS training syllabus

Dear Station Members,

Further to the Station Mail on the CICTA BLS training given below, please kindly find the syllabus of the training for your additional information. Please kindly note the first 2 classes are already full & the 3rd class is having limited vacancy for anyone interested to join.

As from the contents of the syllabus so shown, the BLS training is universal & practical for landscape workers, supervisors, management or anybody interested to learn how to conduct landscape work on site properly. It is a certification course & the credential given to the successful candidates will upgrade the image of the individuals & the company they work for. At present, landscape workers are not categorized in the construction worker registration scheme. The BLS credential will promote the status of the working individuals & may be favoured by clients for employment or contract administration in the near future.

Looking forward to anyone's participation in the BLS training program soonest.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

ISA HK/China --- 2008 Green Thumbs Tree Climbing Championship in Singapore

Dear Station Members,

We wish to thank those of you who has been chasing this Station for details of the Green Thumbs 2008 Tree Climbing Championship in Singapore for the waiting. ISA HK/China has now received confirmation of the event as follows:

Dates: Friday Sep 12, 2008 for the Foreigner Group First Leg of the Competition starting
at 8am.
Saturday Sep 13, 2008 for the Finals starting at 8am
Sunday Sep 14, 2008 from 8am to Noon for the Gathering with Singaporean &
international climbers

Venue: East Coast Park Open Lawn next to Carpark E2

Further details of the Competition are given below in this message & in the attachments of this Station Mail.

ISA HK/China will encourage our climbers from Fung Kai School, CLP, LCSD, AFCD, HKAS, KFBG & TCHK to join & participate in this fun-filled & thrilling event. Those who do not belong to any group & wish to join can come under the flag of TCHK. Anyone can apply on his/her own to join the Competition not going through ISA HK/China. We just want you to be there to represent us, not necessarily under the name of any organization.

Besides being a requirement in Tree Work & in the future IPA system, Tree Climbing & Chainsaw Operation are exciting to watch. Anyone who has seen this would tell you that the vision, the noise, the cheers & the fist-throwing will boil your blood. Our HK Climber has won the Footlock event in the ISA Brisbane Conference this May & has then shown the world that Chinese climbers can climb & compete. Would more of you reveal your potential this time to show the Asian world?

ISA HK/China looks forward to a keen participation in the Green Thumbs in Singapore next month.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager



Subject: Special Invitation - Green Thumbs 2008 Tree Climbing Championships 13 Sep 2008 (Saturday)

Sammy,

Apologies for this late response. We were trying to finalise details before reverting to you. We appreciate your support for Green Thumbs 2008. In addition to the skills championships guidelines that I have sent earlier, I am attaching additional info on the registration form and the skills championships.

The timetable for the heats and the finals of the Skills Championships are included. We will encourage you and your fellow associates to participate in the Best Tree Climber and Best Chainsaw Operator Skills Championships.

We can certainly organise a get-together of the HK ISA Station and participants with the Singapore Arboriculture Society (SAS) on a day after the event on 14 Sep 08 (Sunday). This will facilitate the exchange of experiences and competencies, and at the same time build up a collaborative relationship to push forward arboriculture excellence in the region.

We look forward to your strong participation and meeting you in Singapore. I am attaching a short mailer on the event for your use.

+++

Green Thumbs is an annual Industry event in Singapore to showcase the skills of our workforce and the development progress of the Industry.

We have successfully organised Green Thumbs for the previous two years. The success of this event is in part due to the active contributions and involvement of the Industry Partners, like yourself. We wld like to thank you for your active sponsorship for Green Thumbs 2007.

Green Thumbs 2008 is scheduled on 13 Sep 08 (Sat) at East Coast Park Open Lawn next to Carpark E2. This event is organised by NParks/CUGE, and supported by NTUC and WDA. Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Education, is the Guest of Honour for the event. The GOH programme commences at 3pm on 13 Sep 08.

Green Thumbs 2008 will feature Industry workforce competing in a series of 10 Skills Championships, a Green Carnival featuring the first-ever F1 Mower Novelty Race, the launch of WSQ Floristry and the Opening of the Nominations for the Best BSI (Best Sourcing Initiative) Contractor in the Landscape Industry.

We hope to engage and excite the Landscape Industry workforce and the community in a fun-filled event. We will also have an Industry Networking Evening by the beach at 6.30pm on 13 Sep 08, to close the event. Green Thumbs has evolved into an important event of the Landscape Calendar. We will have the Industry companies participating in Skills Championships.

We will also have a Carnival drawing the public and community to have a fun-filled day. We will expect a crowd participation of about 100 Industry companies and close to a crowd of 4,000 for the event.

++++

Yong Fook Chyi § Assistant Director Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) Industry Division § National Parks Board § Tel: +65 646 27301§ Handphone: +65 9665 0432 § Fax: +65 646 95332Privileged/Confidential information may be contained in this message. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person. Please notify the sender immediately if you receive this in error. § Check out our website at http://www.nparks.gov.sg and http://www.cuge.com.sg

ISA HK/China --- 2008 Research on Therapeutic Tree Climbing

*** 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 is the latest research on the therapeutic values of Tree Climbing issued by Tree Climbing Japan (TCJ) in ISA recently. This may be the first research article published by ISA specifically on the emotional & ecological benefits of Tree Climbing so far.

Our Station has positively promoted the physical & mental benefits of Tree Climbing for some time already. Tree Climbing is now officially recognized in Japan as a healthy sport, not only for mental relaxation but also for ecological conservation. The famous Dr. Alex Shigo had emphasized in his Tree Biology series to ' Touch Trees' in order to understand trees. Then what is better to touch trees than to climb a tree?

In Japan, TCJ is the only organization approved by the authorities to climb public trees in parks, housing estates & conservation areas. For any professional climbers, the code for climbing is ' to preserve the tree in its original state or better after the climb'. The meaning of ' better' would mean any dead, dying, diseased or broken branches would be removed during the climb to make the tree healthier & stronger in structure. The TCJ official organizing he climb would have to sign an agreement with the authority in charge of the trees, & be responsible if this code is not observed. We can only wish HK can follow the same & let our CTW take our public to climb & preserve our trees.

HK is full of stresses of all kinds & it is known that Tree Climbing can relieves stresses, build a stronger body & increase our love for nature. No professional tree climber would like to damage any tree, or there may be very few trees left to climb. Only when Tree Climbing can develop in our society with action & examples, our trees would be protected & preserved better by vanguards of genuine Tree Lovers, who would climb trees to preserve trees.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)

ISA HK/China --- CICTA BLS Program

Dear Station Members & Public,

After nearly a year of preparation, the Basic Landscaping Skills (BLS) program conducted at CICTA is finally ready for public participation. The details of the course are attached for anyone interested. Anyone may also follow this link to apply:

http://cicta.hkcic.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=1472

BLS is yet another Govt effort to upgrade the landscaping skills of our greenery workers, & will be conducted by the Station Manager for the first session, & Ken So of CAHK for the second & third session. This program is different from the Tree Supervision Course previously designed in that there will be an exam at the end of the training. Participants will have to learn & study hard to posses the knowledge to sit for the exam.

This program was designed not only for workers in our industry, but also for supervisors, landscape professionals & company bosses because the knowledge contained is universal & practical. References have been made from international practices to combine with our local condition to achieve the best possible solution to upgrade the existing skills. Candidates would learn the right & wrong in their conventional procedures, & why. The objective of the training is to aim for improving the quality of work in our landscape, with feasible practices & procedures. Anyone, whether laymen or experienced, should come to compare their knowledge in this program & test himself/herself. Candidates are expected to find themselves re-organized & refreshed with the latest knowledge which will in turn upgrade the image of the profession & the quality of work to benefit our society.

We are expecting keen participation for the BLS program, & maybe even more enthusiastic than the running Tree Supervision Course. In the Tree Supervision Course, we have seen candidates joining just for knowledge & not anything else. The BLS program is suitable for hobbyists, tree lovers, conservationists, horticulturists & management staff other than landscape workers. It may attain full house many times once it is publicized.

Therefore, for anyone interested, please apply at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment. One contractor has already told this Station that they will wrap up classes.

Looking forward to your participation soonest.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

IS AHK/China --- HK Tree News (Tree Work Accident in Sai Kung)

*** 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,

Only last Sunday that the Station Manager has learned of a chainsaw accident on a HYD contractor who cut his forearm & had to be stitched 9 times in hospital, below is another case of Tree Work Accident where the victim had two toes trapped by a fallen limb during a regular pruning exercise. The tow toes were eventually removed & were left behind in his shoe.

From the internet news below, a tree worker climbed to remove a 6 inch limb on a Ficus elastica on 7.8.08 in Sai Kung. While the broken limb did not fall in the desired direction, it was said to be snapped off by the wind to drop right on to his left foot. The edges of the falling limb cut into the canvas shoe of the worker & he lost two toes upon injury. It must have been a horrifying scene there indeed.

Without further evidence available, the following questions could be investigated for the event:

1. Was this worker trained & equipped with proper PPE & Climbing Equipment to do his work?

2. Did he have a plan before his work? Was this plan safe & acceptable by industry standards?

3. Was he cutting with the approved cutting technique?

4. Did he anticipate the risks & prepare for them?

5. Did he follow our CAP 509 OSHO procedures for work & safety?

6. If the answer to any of the above question is no, would the insurance company find an excuse to turn down his claim?

Tree Work is full of risks. It can not be casually performed by someone not properly trained & equipped. If safety rules are not observed, accident is a very probable alternative. International & local incidents have proven this fact again & again.

Yet there are hardly any training centre to offer proper tree work in the public sector besides CICTA & TCHK. Attendance for training is also voluntary. CICTA training also does not involve practical sessions so far as well, like tree climbing & chainsaw operation.

Then now, what should we do?

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager


墜枝插鋸樹工人 連鞋帶腳扯斷兩趾

8月6日 星期三 05:10

【專訊】颱風「北冕」襲港下，西貢白石臺昨日發生一宗罕見斷趾工業意外。一名工人在爬上大樹用鋸修葺樹丫期間，疑突然颳起一陣大風將被鋸至搖搖欲墜的巨型樹枝吹斷，樹枝墜下時剛巧壓中工人左腳掌，工人痛極掙扎脫困，左腳掌兩趾被硬生生扯斷，「連趾帶鞋」留在樹丫上，要由消防協助取下，由於斷趾血肉模糊，未知能否駁回。

受傷工人盧×新，42歲，被送聯合醫院救治。其左腳掌第4及尾趾被扯斷至血肉模糊，連同「白飯魚」布鞋留在樹幹上，消防員爬梯上樹用鐵筆撬開樹枝「連趾帶鞋」取出後，再急送院交醫生進行接駁手術，但未知能否成功。

現場為西貢白石臺忠賢里7號村屋對開，上址種有一棵近40呎高的大橡樹，已有近30年歷史，因枝葉繁茂影響附近村屋景觀，每年村民也僱用工人進行修葺。

突颳大風 樹枝砸中腳掌

事發昨午5時許，一名工人爬上站在離地約7呎高樹丫位置用鋸修葺樹枝，其間將一支約6吋直徑的大樹枝鋸至搖搖欲墜時，突然颳起一陣大風，被鋸至的樹枝隨即斷裂向下墜，剛巧壓中工人站在樹丫的左腳掌，樹枝斷口猶如利刀直插中腳掌背，工人痛徹心肺，忍痛用力拉扯解困，但定睛一看，赫然發現左腳掌失去兩隻小趾，傷口一片血肉模糊，大驚呼救，附近居民聞訊代為報警。
救護員及消防員接報趕至，先由救護車將傷者送院救治，消防員則爬梯用繩將樹枝固定後，再用鐵筆「連趾帶鞋 」撬出，只見布鞋背面破開一個大洞，隱約可見斷趾。

ISA HK/China --- IPM China 2008

Dear Station Members,

ISA HK/China has promised some of you that we shall do our best to bring our Station Members & ISA Arboriculture into China. We have been waiting for the right opportunity. Now the time has come.

IPM China 2008 (http://www.ipm-china.com.cn/) , which is one of the largest Flower Show in China if not the largest, will be held in Chencun, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China from Dec 1 to Dec 3,2008. According to the organizer, they will have over 200 exhibitors from all around China & overseas countries to put up display, & all major Landscape Bureaus, designers, contractors, nurserymen, academics & industry personnel from across China will come to visit the show. They expect more than 50,000 landscape industry personnel to attend this year.

This time, ISA HK/China together with TCHK & ETF, will jointly bid for a display booth in IPM 2008. It will cost RMB 5,000.00 for a 3m x 3m indoor booth for 3 days at the best spot. Sharing the cost between three parties, each will pay RMB 1666.66 for the exhibition. Exchange rate now is US 1 = RMB 6.85. The venue is 2 hours away by bus from HK & is located in the middle of several thousand local nurseries. We consider this a fabulous bargain for our purpose to meet all our brothers & sisters in a bunch to sell ISA arboriculture, tree climbing & ETF trees. If we get just one offer, it will be worth all the investment we pay for.

Like the SGF 2008, ISA HK/China is happy to bring along anyone interested whether participating in the exhibition, or just come along to meet our Chinese counterparts. If any of our overseas friends would like to join in the exhibition, we shall be happy to provide logistics & support. ISA HK/China will also try to nudge the organizers to give us a seminar venue to present ISA Arboriculture, at no extra cost. TCHK will also look for opportunity to demonstrate tree climbing which is something never seen publicly in any China Flower Show before. We are going to ignite our brothers & sisters with international arboriculture this time.

ISA HK/China will pay for the IPM participation fees within two weeks from today. If anyone is interested to join in, please hurry & kindly let us know soonest.

ISA HK/China is ready to put up the best show for our fellow countrymen this December.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

ISA HK/China --- Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA)

*** 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 have found your enquiry is of a nature of interest to our Station Members. We therefore broadcast our reply in an open Station Mail for the benefit of all & at the same time without disclosing any of your details. We hope you do not mind us doing it like this.

It is indeed the plan of ISA HK/China to enact a new professional status called the Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) within our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China to suit our local conditions. We do this out of the following reasons:


(A) The Need

It is known that our Certified Arborists (CA) in our territory have split into 3 major groups at present, the Practicing, the non-Practicing & In-house.

The non-Practicing CA, who is the largest group at present, are mostly Civil Servants. In accordance with current Govt Policies, they are not allowed to enter private practice without consent from senior authorities. The In-house group which is the second largest, would mostly work to the commercial interest of their employers, & would be doubted for their impartiality in performance. The last group which is slowly emerging from among our 160 no. of CA in HK is the Practicing group (IPA) who work for themselves without representing anybody's interest, & have to accept professional responsibilities for their work as well as any legal liability that would incur. IPA is supposed to be impartial & unbiased, & would generally be involved to carry out independent assessment in arboricultural matters including legal disputes, supervise Tree Work from transplanting to pruning, & to deliver education in seminars & forum to the general public. IPA is also the Auditor for trees similar to Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for companies.

Work of IPA is usually of an independent nature & would not comply with anybody's commercial, departmental or professional interest. IPA is not supposed to have any sentiment or prejudice over his/her work, & should be unbiased to release his/her comments out of international practices or latest research. In a way, IPA is the pinnacle of the Arboricultural Profession in our territory & would be honoured to the determined few.

(B) The Working Environment

From past experience in our territory, IPA would usually involve in reviewing Tree Survey, providing professional comments in Tree Protection, carrying our Tree Inspection & Risk Assessment, providing design & supervision in Structural Pruning & Transplanting, conducting education in Arboricultural Training, acting as Expert Witness for Tree Disputes in Court, & Consultation in tree care matters. It is therefore our recommendation that the IPA should stay upfront in the field of knowledge as well as possessing practical experience including the use of arboriculture means such as Tree Climbing, Chainsaw Operation & Rigging in his/her practice.

IPA should also be constantly advancing himself/herself with the latest research & should build an extensive network with international Arborists for knowledge sharing & personal education. IPA should not be someone relaxing on his/her credentials but rather staying on the edge of learning & advancing continuously. For Court scenario, the IPA should possess the minimum legal skill to present specialist reports to witness the case, & is able to stand up to cross examination by opposite lawyers.

(C) The Requirement

ISA HK/China is stating the following requirements for anyone who wishes to become an IPA in our territory:

1. CA who has re-certified at least once to ascertain his sustainability in the industry.

2. Simultaneously holds the ISA Certified Tree Worker (CTW) credential to ascertain this person has the basic knowledge to climb trees for inspection & work such as design & supervision of pruning & rigging to international standards.

3. Minimum of 3 years of working experience in the arboricultural industry with proven record of producing Arborist Reports in jobs. Able to carry out Rigging work by rigging a 50 kg log from +10m above ground on tree with chainsaw & to lower it diagonally onto ground within 30 minutes.

4. Has attended an international ISA Conference at least once to ascertain networking & global vision in arboriculture.

5. Attaining a minimum level of legal knowledge such as the 'O' level or GCSE in Laws or equivalent, to ascertain this IPA can provide consultation & handle Tree Disputes.

6. Attaining an 'A' level or equivalent in English Language for communication skill, so that this IPA can connect with the international network & is able to deliver professional Arborist Report & representing clients.


Please note all above are current ideas under construction. Any CA can call himself/herself an IPA without distinction in our territory at present. We intend to implement the IPA system in our territory from August 2010 to give 2 years for our CA & CTW to attain the required qualifications to register into an IPA in ISA HK/China. We shall also then advertise & publicise the IPA system in our territory from that time onwards.

As the arboricultural profession advances in our territory, it is necessary to float up those who wish to stay in practice form those who do not. It is also just a matter of time that specifications & requirements for IPA will surface in our community for client selection & image upgrade of our profession.

We now hope that your enquiry has been entertained & IPA has given you a direction to head for. We always encourage our young to advance themselves to upgrade our profession constantly. On the other hand, please always note that the Arboricultural Profession is a legally sensitive profession & any CA putting down his/her credential is subject to scrutiny by other professionals & Court. Please do take care when you need to use your credential.

Thank you for your enquiry again & we hope you can stay in our profession, & remain long & healthy in it.

Wishing you well for your work,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)

ISA HK/China --- 2008 Research on Tree Stabilization Systems

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Dear Station Members,

Attached is the latest research of ISA on the Tree Stabilization Systems for information to our local practices.

Tree Staking is a common practice in our landscape contracts due to the disability of landscaping trees to stand up in wind after installation. One major probable reason of this happening may be because the rootballs that come along with the nursery trees from China do not meet the international requirement of 10 x Trunk Diameter to have less weight below to stabilize the tree in wind. Another probable reason may be due to the low Live Crown Ration (LCR) which would raise the Turning Moment of a tree in wind since the majority of wind-catching area would be on top. Then if anyone would look carefully at most China nursery trees, they usually do not have good Taper to bend in wind as well.

The reduced rootball coupling with low LCR & poor Taper are again due to the common nursery production method in China. In most China nurseries, trees are planted densely like paddy or vegetables to maximize profit. Trees there have to fight for sunlight by developing a long slender stem which would lead to low LCR without Taper. Then when the tree is harvested, in order not to cut off the roots of the neighbouring trees as well as for manual carrying convenience while dragging it out of the densely man-made forest, the rootball has to be reduced & sometimes tree parts Topped. Occasionally there are trees planted in containers for hoping to minimize transplant shock, but either the containers would not meet the 10 x Trunk Diameter requirement or Girdling Roots would develop to make these trees a potential hazard in future planting.

Yet HK has to rely on China to supply nearly all our nursery trees today.

With trees of above qualities, we are not sure whether even the best Tree Stabilization Systems would help in protecting our landscaping trees in wind. Those with Girdling Roots would eventually become Time Bombs to hit somebody or something as well. The solution may really rest upon the use of quality trees that very few China nurseries can nowadays supply.

ETF has been promoting international nursery production methods to China growers but again has been ignored or even laughed at. Maybe if ISA Arboriculture would not develop among our brothers & sisters up north, HK will have to put up with using China quality trees, & then hope for the best ...

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)

ISA HK/China --- The Singapore Experience (Episode 4, SGF Expo 2008)

*** 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 was a huge success for ISA HK/China to participate in the Singapore Garden Festival 2008 Expo (SGF). Over 50 candidates from our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China have attended this SGF whether directly or indirectly informed by our Station. ISA HK/China has also learned that there were over 320 participants from many countries joining the conference & another 200 no. just for the Flower Show. This has marked the SGF an important event with international participation in the Asia Pacific Region.

Objectives of ISA HK/China to attend the SGF included:

1. To better network with regional counterparts around our territory & to promote ISA to anyone not yet learning its presence in Asia.

2. To promote quality trees of ETF & tried to use that to encourage arboriculture & ISA in the buyer's domain.

3. To promote proper arboriculture & tree climbing to any attendees from Macau, Taiwan & China.

4. To bring back knowledge of the latest arboricultural practices of Nparks during the Seminar & Day Tour of July 26.

We generally felt that all objectives have been successfully met during this visit. The Station Manager was also astonished to learn of the lack of acknowledgement of ISA arboriculture in certain Asian countries which are English speaking including India, Philippines & Brunei. Maybe these countries would have potential to develop ISA arboriculture as from their traditional practice.

There were several groups of visitors from China coming to the exhibition stand of ISA HK/China & they were amazed to learn of modern arboricultural practices & tree climbing from us. Nearly all of them used to believe topping was the only way to transplant a tree & they used to view tree climbing belonging only to the young & daring. Their concept of planting trees for only ' flowers & scent ' was deeply rooted. Tree structure & health for proper tree selection did not mean much for them. Tree Failures were regarded as only Acts of God & they have never heard of the term Tree Detective played by Arborists for legal disputes. All of them listened carefully to the introduction of the Station Manager on ISA & grabbed any Chinese notes that were available for the exhibition. If all of China would show interest like these candidates, ISA HK/China may be knocking on the door sooner than we have planned. This is yet to be seen.

Seminar & Day Tour of July 26 organized kindly by Nparks was the most educational of all. Several prominent designers & Arborists from Nparks delivered excellent talk on the current practices & concepts of tree planting & landscaping. ISA HK/China focused on the tree planting part of the discussion only & has brought back highlights as follows:

a. Tree planting in Singapore is regulated by the Park & Tree Act & Planning Act.

b. Trees are conserved in 4 major areas --- Tree conservation Area, Heritage Road Scheme, Heritage Tree Scheme & Nature Conservation.

c. Park Masterplan aims for 0.8 ha/1000 population for greenery purpose, & parks are to be linked together for convenience of visit.

d. Streetscape GMP includes parkway Treatment, Coastal Treatment, Forest Treatment, Rural Treatment & Gateway Treatment.

e. Greenery coverage of Singapore has improved from 35.66% of land coverage in 1986 to 46.59% in 2007. Nearly half of Singapore now is green when viewed from an airplane today.

f. Tree Failure Rate is quoted to be low, with thanks to regular Tree Inspection & Risk Assessment.

g. There are 204 Certified Arborists now working in Singapore, with about half working in Nparks carrying out various arboricultural duties from design, nursery stocks selection, transplanting, maintenance, inspection, risk assessment, conservation & construction protection.

h. Trees are inspected every 18 months in major roads, with fewer intervals in minor roads.

i. Tree Database is being established in Nparks for inventory purpose. Urban Forestry concept is applied in managing urban trees.

j. It was noted in Singapore that 60 - 70 kmh wind can begin to threaten breakage for trees in Singapore.

k. Vertical Greening is starting in Singapore. The 4 major criteria include Weather & Environment, Plant Choice, System & Media, & Water Supply. With typhoons in HK, this is yet to be seen for cost justification in its application. It may be cheaper to plant a tall tree in front instead if space is available.

After the Seminar, there was a guided tour to Hort Park & Southern Ridges to see spectacular planting & landscape features. The visit was well rewarding with knowledge & education for the participated group of around 30 persons from HK, Macau, New Zealand & Brunei.

Selected photos of the SGF visit are attached for sharing with Station Members. This trip has been memorable with over 4 Govt Depts from HK & 1 Govt Dept from Macau participating, plus participants from our public & private sectors. This is the largest group ISA HK/China has managed to call up so far to support any overseas event.

There will be a Green Thumb event in Singapore around mid-Sep this year & ISA HK/China has been invited to participate in the tree climbing competition. We shall send out our best climbers to compete as well as perhaps a noisy group of local climbers just to go there to support & enjoy. Green Thumb will be a fun-filled & lively event different from serious education of SGF. ISA HK/China will be represented by the muscular & daring for a change to cheer & jeer at the tree climbing competition. Further information will be disseminated in Station Mail upon confirmation from Nparks later.

Arborists are forever learning people & our activities have proved just that. ISA HK/China will now look forward to come to the Green Thumb in Singapore soonest.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Tree Selection in HK Island)

*** 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 is a set of recent news for the proposed tree planting in the western districts of HK Island.

ISA HK/China views the action to be full of good intention to plant trees to cool our city & to bring about the ecological & social benefits of trees to our community. On the other hand, the comments made by our prominent tree professional Prof CY Jim may also be valid in saying that Sophora japonica is a temperate species which would have survival problems in our summer, & Michelia alba would be too large & spreading for our narrow streets. The Camptotheca acuminata appeared to be a correct choice, since this tree is ex-current with predictable wind loading to minimize Structural Pruning & it is tough enough to survive our urban conditions.

It is recommended in ISA education that Right Trees should be planted in the Right Places. Proper tree selection will minimize future maintenance & failure, although Structural Pruning is always recommended after the 12 month Establishment Period & annual inspection should be given by an Independent Practicing Arborist for impartial comments on tree condition & risk. Trees are very much like humans & regular care must be given for them to stay healthy & lasting. Lack of care would neglect abuses from our city development with which our urban trees would not last long to provide the social & ecological benefits to give us.

It would be good if our public can be provided more fundamental education on trees, & this may make trees to be our asset rather than liability as some have seen it.

Can ISA HK/China help on this?

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)

ISA HK/China --- CA Training and Exam from MSA

Dear Station Members,

Below & attached are information received from our regional counterpart Malaysian Society of Arborists (MSA) for their Certified Arborist (CA) Training with exam to be held in Malaysia this coming August. We wish to thank MSA for sharing this opportunity with us indeed.

For those of you who wish to study & take the CA credential as soon as in August, please kindly follow the instructions in the attached flyer & apply at your earliest convenience. You may wish to contact MSA for any queries for a direct reply.

As we can see now that Arboriculture is expanding in our part of the world with former training in Asian countries & hopefully, we can be soon knocking on the door in Taiwan & China which are still very much unexplored domain in the territory of ISA HK/China. Provision of training is the first step to develop modern Arboriculture in our region, & we look forward to such opportunity anywhere anytime .

Thank you all for your kind attention.

best regards,

Sammy Au
ISA HK/China




----- Original Message -----
From: Amat Ramsa Yaman
To: egc@netvigator.com ; Kevin_Ng@cuge.com.sg
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 8:11 AM

Subject: Training and Exam for Arborist Certfication 2008

Dear Friends,

Malaysian Society of Arborist will conduct trainingprogram for certified arborist candidates in which at the end of theprogram there will be a certification exam. The program is running from 4 to 21 August 2008 at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

A well known resource person from oversea will be the instructor for the program.We welcome any overseas candidates from Asia Pacific to join the program though this notification is really short in time.

Attachedherewith is the flyer for the program. At the time being our society is participating in the Malaysian International Garden Festival from 19 - 27 July 2008. We have our own exhibition booth to introduce the society to the public particularly the players in landscape industry.

Thank You.

Amat Ramsa Yaman

President

Malaysian Society of Arborists

Faculty of Forestry

Universiti Putra Malaysia

+60192181297

email: haryupm@gmail.com

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Preserving OMT)

*** 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/ & http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***

Dear Station Members,

Below & attached are yet another sad case of Mature Tree Failure which was described to happen on 4 no. of our Old Mature Trees (OMT) at the former Central Police Station in HK Island. They were said to be blown over by the mini-typhoon Fangshen two weeks ago & they were inspected to be beyond hope & therefore removed. The incident has prompted senior official in our Govt to call for better preservation of these trees.

In the opinion of ISA HK/China, a task force comprised of AFCD, LCSD & local Independent Practicing Arborists can be set up to help further prevent future incidents to our OMT. The AFCD experts can provide advice on the habitat & conservation details for these local trees, which would originally come from our previous forest. The LCSD experts can provide maintenance programs with their contractor resources to be supervised by them to carry out on-going provision for these sensitive trees. The local Independent Arborists should provide regular Tree Inspection as Tree Doctors, & be on call within hours to site should an emergency situation arise. We must remember limb breakage would only take minutes to happen. We can not wait for days for the tree to let it happen. Independent Practicing Arborists should also be impartial & do not represent any Departmental interest or the interest of any company or group, & will take the liabilities for their reporting to District Board, Conservation Groups, Govt or anybody.

It is important to identify & protect OMT, but maybe more so to provide positive efforts to care, maintain & inspect them. OMT are like senile humans & they need special attention & regular medical check-up. Who would be better than the Arborists, whether in Govt or working independently, to provide such advice. Heritage Trees in Singapore undergo vigorous tree care program of maintenance & inspection by their Arborists. Most of their Heritage Trees are even lightning protected besides intensive tree care. Can we do the same to ours to match the names so given?

It is always true that Mother Nature makes the Rules, not any of us for a tree. What HK may require now to preserve our valuable assets may be the correct action, & be quick.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)

風神吹倒4大樹 林鄭促盡快保育

7月16日 星期三 05:10

【專訊】馬會去年10月表示會保留中區警署建築群內所有樹木，惟活化計劃尚未展開，建築群內4棵樹上月已被熱帶氣旋風神重重「襲擊」，一棵大葉榕被吹倒，壓住另外3棵樹，並擊倒建築群的一個陽台，經專家檢驗，3棵樹已不能存活，發展局長林鄭月娥表示事件反映馬會需盡快展開活化及保育計劃，以免建築物進一步受損。

大葉榕連根拔起

上月熱帶氣旋「風神」襲港，把中區警署建築群內一棵17米高、約30多年樹齡的大葉榕（Ficus virens）連根拔起，壓倒旁邊的木棉（Bombax ceiba）、朴樹（Celtis sinensis）和竹柏 （Nageia nagi），經康文署專家檢驗，除了竹柏倖存，其餘3棵樹全部「不治」。4棵樹均不在古樹名冊內。

連根拔起的大葉榕亦擊中警署B座一個陽台，陽台塌於地上，幸未至破碎，當局已將之保存待日後維修。林鄭月娥希望馬會日後會於樹木原址種植適合的品種，她又指事件反映馬會需盡快開展保育及活化計劃，並為建築群維修。

ISA HK/China --- Method Statement on Pruning

*** 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.

Your enquiry on Method Statement of Pruning a mature tree has come up quite a few times in this Station already. Therefore, for the benefit of our Station Members, we are repeating our reply to you in open Station Mail without disclosing any of your details of which we have erased anyway to protect your identity. Please note any enquiry coming in can be circulated within our system as stipulated above in red & Station Mail is regarded as part of our internal system.

We can not provide you a Method Statement for your pruning work due to the following reasons:

1. It is your work & you get paid for it. You should employ an Independent Practicing Arborist, like an Auditor for limited companies, to do it for you & let him take the liability. Your enquiry is simply outside the scope of service of our Station.

2. We have a saying in Arboriculture that Prescription without diagnosis is Mal-practice. Any responsible Arborist would not prescribe Pruning Specifications without first examining the tree, like any good doctor would not give medicines to a patient before examining him. Arboricultural work is legally sensitive & any removed branches can not be nailed or glued back. Once cut, the case is there & the Arborist would need to accept liability.

3. We were surprised to learn from you that the instruction would actually come from your Landscape Consultant for the Method Statement. We would think that your consultant would be technically superior than you are as a contractor to provide Method Statement to you on what to do. In tree work overseas, it would be the Arborist giving Method Statement to the contractor, be they tree climbers or general workers, on how to prune a tree. This Station has not yet seen it the other way round anywhere in the world so far. Station Mail is now circulated to +670 Station Members in HK & to +20 countries around the world. This Station would be humble to learn of the reasons why the cart is to be put before the horse elsewhere.

Pruning to a tree is equivalent to surgery on a person. If anyone goes to a doctor to complain his appendicitis, would the doctors ask him to provide a Method Statement on how to remove it on a surgical table?

Therefore, in your case, it would either be you go back to your landscape Consultant to ask for further advice, or you would employ an Independent Practicing Arborist to inspect the tree & provide the Method Statement. This Station simply can not do it for you.

Thank you for your enquiry again & please do not hesitate to contact us anytime if you have further queries. By not evading questions & providing an efficient reply are what makes this Station strong & popular in our territory. We also believe reasoned debate by educated people is the sole means to resolve contemporary human problems.

Wouldn't you?

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (www.isa-arbor.com)

ISA HK/China --- 2008 Research on Containerized Tree Planting

*** 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,

Containerized Trees are frequently used in our territory especially in places where ground planting is not possible, e.g. podium & shopping mall. Rooftop tree planting is in a way a form of Containerized Tree Planting since soil is confined to man-made planters without connection to ground, & is subject to ambient temperature variation & artificial water replenishment during dry season . Ficus benjamina, a fast & tough growing species is a favourable choice for this purpose, usually without much consideration of its natural habitat & wind loading ability.

Drought tolerance in selecting Containerized Trees does not always appear to be a prime consideration in our territory, since it would be the contractors getting the blame if the trees do not perform well. Some of the contract conditions in our territory would prime to facilitate administration & management rather than the conveniences of the workers doing it. Therefore resentment would grow among contractors, which in turn would slow the work & harm the harmony between the parties involved.

HK is a place where summer heat & winter drought are major concern for sustainable landscape. Containerized Planting has become a major challenge for our landscapers. Coupling with typhoons in the summer season, making Containerized Trees a success is no easy task. On the other hand, forcing through realities for a moment of visual pleasure would usually lead to over-burden in maintenance, & may be even eventual tree failure in wind & drought. It therefore has to be a careful choice indeed.

Attached is the latest research from ISA to provide information on the challenges of using Containerized Trees in open areas. Water management appeared to be a major concern with species demand & environmental consideration. We Arborists have a famous saying that: Mother Nature makes the rules, not any of us. If the wrong tree is planted in the wrong place, sustainability is always in doubt when maintenance has become inconvenient or impractical.

Arboriculture is a scientific discipline & Arborists believe in facts & research. Lets hope the article attached can throw some light to our profession & help our people who have to deal with Containerized Tree planting under our conditions.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)