ISA HK/China --- CSGF Progress Visit and East Week Magazine 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,

Two counts of recent events are hereby reported in Station Mail as follows:

1. China Southern Green Fair (CSGF) Progress Visit on Oct 19, 2008

Two Station Members, Deputy Station Manager Tony Ng & the Station Manager were invited by the CSGF Organizing Committee to pay a progress visit in Zhongshan on Oct 19 to discuss the display, seminar & demonstration arrangement. Details of the proposed itinerary are attached for general reference, although hardly anyone would know for sure what the final arrangement would be, not until minutes before the Show is due to begin on Dec 26, 2008.

It appeared that only one seminar can be arranged at the CSGF although we do not know how long the duration would be. On the other hand, ISA HK/China will be meeting with various local landscape institutes of China & exchanges will happen.

There will be a Tree Rigging & Chainsaw Operation demonstration given for ISA HK/China at the Show & the photo of the dead tree to get the cut is attached. Photos of Mature Trees installed on site with millions of RMB at the CSGF venue are also attached for interesting viewing. ISA HK/China will not make comments on these trees since we are greeted in as VIP by the enthusiastic host at the CSGF.

2. East Week Magazine article on ISA HK/China

East Week Magazine has kindly come for an interview with ISA HK/China & TCHK last month, & a report has been published in this week's publication which can be bought over the news stand. The contents are self-explanatory, although the readers have to understand that any given information has been digested & filtered by the editors.

Please excuse the unclear printing of the article since they were compressed under a low resolution for e-mail transmission. Anyone who wants to read clear pages may have to buy off the magazine in a shop anywhere in HK.

East Week Magazine would usually have a circulation of +100,000 copies per week in Southern China & is usually displayed in public location like restaurants & hairdressers for coffee discussion.

We wish to thank East Week Magazine for taking interest in our activity & ISA HK/China loves publicity to promote ISA Arboriculture in our territory anytime.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

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

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Tree Work Accident at Blue Pool Road, HK)

*** 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 yet another sad piece of news of a Tree Work Accident which happened to a TCHK Member who is well known to the Station Manager for some time already, although he is not yet qualified by ISA or any international organization. The identity of this young man is protected because we believe he will somehow climb again in future, although he has truly learned a lesson the hard way this time.

Since it happened to a close associate of the Station Manager in TCHK in this unfortunate accident, the Station Manager actually spent half day without pay yesterday to investigate the cause of the accident together with the Labour Dept Inspectors who was there in a duty call. This accident was also widely reported in the press & in the internet news in HK.

After studying the tree, the equipment & the reported technique, it appeared to the Station Manager that it was a case of misjudgement by the Tree Climber on setting the Final Tie-in Point & the Lanyard Position during the Rigging Process to cause the collapse of the system which dragged the Tree Climber down from 15m height above to land on a pile of wooden debris. No equipment failure was detected by any party & no Safety Violation of ANSI Z133.1 (2006) was observed by the Station Manager. However, the technique of using a Figure-8 Friction Device on top of the tree to be controlled by the Tree Climber, instead of under by the Groundmen, is not an international practice nor recommended by ISA HK/China. This may be a technique self-invented by the Tree Climber at the time, who perhaps became over-confident with his own skills & experience, although this particular Tree Climber is known to have climbed for as little as only 2.5 years in all. Then when the system failed, he fell with it as well.

Tree Work is very dangerous indeed !! If an Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA), or even an experienced Certified Tree Worker (CTW) was present to supervise the work instead of letting some young climbers to go free with their zeal, this Tree Work Accident may be unlikely to have happened. This young man who was said to have punctured his lung & fractured some bones although luckily surviving the ordeal, may leave a shadow in the back of his mind to stay with him in his future climbing career. We also do not know how his injury would impair his ability to climb any faster or higher upon recovery. The next few weeks will be critical for him to tell.

There is a famous James Bond movie called "You Only Live Twice" who depicted this romantic agent to 'die' & then come back to life to accomplish his mission impossible. For Tree Climbers, we could only wish this can also be true, instead of "You Only Fail Once" ...

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

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

ISA HK/China --- Samples of International Quality Trees in HK

*** 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,

As you all know, ETF is the only Tree Farm in China that can grow trees to internatinal requirements of Central Leader, Live Crown Ratio, Strong Branch Attachment, Spiral Limb Arrangement, Taper, 10 x Trunk Dia. Rootball without Girdling Roots. This kind of quality does not just 'happen' with any tree but only after meticulous tree production method of Structural Pruning, Plant Health Care & other practices. These relevant skills have not yet been brought into China & China tree farmers are still producing trees like vegetables & paddies in especially Guangdong Province which is the main tree supplier to HK. Yet HK has been very tolerant of this practice to allow trees of China quality to plant all over our city. LCSD appears to be the only Govt Dept so far to demand international quality trees in their purchasing requirement for urban planting.

Under a training scheme on Nursery Stocks Standards & Structural Pruning with a Govt Dept which took place in Eurasian Garden in HK this March, samples of ETF trees were shipped down there for practical demonstration together with China quality trees to act as comparison. After the training session, these ETF trees were allowed to grow in Eurasian Garden in Sheung Shui for future educational purposes. Since TCHK (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk) has now shifted all its Arbor Training from Fung Kai School to Eurasian Garden every Sunday, the Station Manager has decided to open up Eurasian Garden for anyone wanting to check out on ISA quality trees with prior appointment. Sunday would be the best day since TCHK will be providing other Arbor Training like Tree Climbing & Chainsaw Operation there. Therefore, why not come down to see both rather than one?

Anyone wishing to take advantage of this opportunity is welcomed to contact the Station Manager for arrangement by e-mail or 9090 6719.

Looking forward to upgrade the quality of trees in our territory to benefit our living with living examples rather than just rhetoric words.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

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

ISA HK/China --- 2008 research in Branch Attachment Strength

Dear Station Members,

Attached is the latest research from ISA on Branch Attachment Strength (BAS) for anyone interested in the subject.

BAS is important in Tree Inspection & Risk Assessment in our territory since the two fatal Tree Failure cases in Ngau Tau Kok of 2006 & Stanley in 2008 both appeared to involve branch failure at attachment point rather than the common Root Crown Failure (RCF) which would topple the whole tree instantly. On the other hand, it appeared to be more common to have RCF in our territory since concrete paving is usually given to cover root zone of our city trees for public convenience. However, fatality case due to RCF has not been detected by this Station so far in our reports, although property damages appeared to be the sole outcome of this failure.

The research attached has re-iterated the common knowledge of Strong Branch Attachment would appear in a branch union where the diameter of the branch is less than half the diameter of the stem at the connection point. Nearly all Certified Arborists (CA) would have studied this for their exam, although some examples of deviation were also given to provide another insight for this conventional concept. The research also mentioned the BAS on other types of branch connection such as Included Bark & the results appeared to confirm the traditional findings.

The mathematics given in this research may be way beyond the exam domains of CA, & may the CA credential taken to be an entry into Professional Arboriculture rather than an end to learning. Our territory now has the Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) credential which is the target after becoming a CA & every intention is to install the IPA as respected as any other professional status especially for entering China. Only by continuously upgrading & updating the knowledge of our profession that it will be accepted & respected in our territory. The Station Manger was only in Court last week for a Tree Dispute law case & he can very well say that IPA is one hail of skills to face the Cross Examination of the articulate Queen's Counsels on the opposite side.

Back to the attached research, the Station Manger apologizes again for the funny underlining in the attached pages since he was reading the article while travelling on a bus to ETF. Please ignore the underlining if anyone does not see any significance in it.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manger

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

ISA HK/China --- China Tree News (ISA in 2008 IPM)

*** 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,

Further to our initial efforts to promote ISA in China in the past few months, China has responded favourably in return, & this time on a national scale. The name of ISA is now officially recorded into the Chinese Greenery System for the first time & can be approached by millions of Tree Lovers in China through their own system.

Attached is a newspaper cutting of the China Gardening News (CGN) which is a national newspaper on greenery in China. CGN is the equivalent of Wall Street Journal for greenery in China & is an official "Party Newspaper" circulated to all Landscape Bureaus from Central Govt to Provincial, City & Town levels for their millions of greenery staff to read two times a week. CGN is also read by the public who have interest in greenery in China & this figure would be again astronomical. CGN is the most influential newspaper in China without doubt on greenery & finding a place there today for publicity is like finding water in desert. ISA HK/China somehow did it through IPM participation for free.

The direct translation of the heading in the report would be that "IPM Show has paved the way for ISA to enter China". It may not be what some of our international readers would like to acknowledge but China does not know ISA well enough to throw an open arm to invite us. The social sentiment in China towards anything foreign is still full of scepticism due to a hundred years of invasion history, & this will be the ice that ISA HK/China will work hard to break. We believe that ISA will be good for China, & we want our brothers & sisters to apprehend that.

The author of the article also made comparison in 'judging' a tree with the oriental & western angle. It then went on to the intention of ISA HK/China wanting to spread the knowledge of modern arboriculture into China for the benefit of trees there. Description such as Arborists are Tree Doctors & Tree Detectives were mentioned. The article ended by claiming how popular the IPM Show would be to bring about the hundreds of participants from across the countries.

With some calculated efforts, ISA is now officially registered in the China Greenery System in their database. This may raise some eyebrows in this Land of Old Dragons for them to pay attention to an 84 year old Tree Care Organization of the Western World which has constant research & education on Arboriculture & Urban Forestry, not as a hobby but as a municipal necessity. A lot of such information is also given for free for the benefits of mankind & a better living in the world. If this may all sound too good to be true for our brothers & sisters who think everything has to come with a price tag, it will then become our mission to confirm it to them, one tree at a time.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

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

ISA HK/China --- 2008 CSGF in China

*** 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,

China is within the territory of ISA HK/China & all the time, we have been waiting for the right opportunity to promote ISA Arboriculture into there with relentless effort. Now with the joining of KM Li & Tony Ng as Deputy Station Manager, the Station Manager finally has additional energy to spare for exploring this vast & open country. China may remain as the final frontier for ISA Arboriculture with its vast territory, huge population & countless billions of trees. ISA could be seen with a chip of the puzzle missing if China does not join in, & ISA HK/China will take up this mission with our name bearing on it.

After signing for the biggest Flower Show called IPM in China for this December, ISA HK/China has yet again signed up for the 2008 China Southern Green Fair (CSGF) which may be a little smaller in scale, but will be a Trade Show of the Chinese Greenery Industry. CSGF is run in a similar fashion to TCI Expo in North America with trade people coming along as the majority. Information of the CSGF in Chinese is attached for reference.

ISA HK/China has managed to persuade both IPM & CSGF to put in education sessions & Tree Climbing Demonstration for us to promote ISA Arboriculture in their Show. This may be also the first time that in such kind of important Flower Show in China, the organizer has agreed for an international research & education organization to put up seminars for public education. In the past, this kind of Show would not mix in the conference element, since they were organized for buying & selling only, not public education. Therefore, when the Station Manager proposed to provide free seminar & demonstration to the Chinese organizer before signing, they did raise their eyebrows as to why we wanted to offer that.

ISA HK/China has explained in detail the ISA organization & mission to the Chinese organizers in order to get a place at these popular events. China has a very different landscaping system to HK in that they have Landscape Engineers only in their Landscape Bureau to master their greenery, similar to Nparks in Singapore in a way. Landscaping is viewed by the Chinese as part of engineering & their Landscape Engineers would need to look after trees from cradle to grave from design, installation, maintenance, regular inspection, risk assessment to final removal. ISA Arboriculture appears to fit in well with the Chinese mentality in that both are looking for research & development, & sustainability of tree care. We have appeared to talk in the same scientific language on trees with similar concerns on practicality & functions.

In our discussion with the Chinese experts so far, they have great appreciation in our Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) system in that an IPA can write, climb, rig, operate chainsaws with international vision & connection. IPA is something that the Chinese Landscaping System does not currently have in equivalent at present. They have also appeared to favour our Certified Tree Worker (CTW) credential with respect to Tree Work to be regarded as not the same as construction work, & must be performed by specialists trained in the field for supervision & execution. Municipal Tree Work in China is performed by greenery workers of their own Landscape Bureau, supervised by their own Tree Experts, & not by common construction companies.

In a shorter term, ISA HK/China can see a great future for the CTW credential to develop in China, since CTW exam can be conducted in Chinese. CTW carries the basics in Tree Work knowledge & practice, like cabling & bracing, safety requirement, pruning & rigging. With the billions of trees in China in their 900 cities & their lack of ability in understanding English, CTW may fit in well with their current landscaping system. On the other hand, CA exam in our territory is conducted in English only since CA is required to connect to the world & need to advance themselves with international knowledge in CEU. CEU is currently conducted in English only in our territory.To translate the knowledge into English is also beyond the ability of ISA HK/China at present & then what about all the latest research that comes out in ISA nearly every month? It would therefore defeat logic to have our local CA not able to master adequate English, nevermind the IPA which the Chinese have appreciated so much.

We anticipate our promotion of ISA to spark off like firework in IPM & CSGF later on in December. Our Tree Climbers will also get their chance to flash off their feathers in front of an astonishing Chinese audience, who would not believe Tree Climbing could be carried out by ropes & harnesses for Structural Pruning & Rigging in a tree. Tree Climbing & IPA appear be the advantages for ISA HK/China to enter China & may we take maximum benefit out of them.

ISA HK/China really has the vision to develop China from now on, rather than to stay forever in tiny HK. May anyone willing to join us stand by our side, & we shall march in together to make history for their trees in this Land of Old Dragons.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

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

ISA HK/China --- 2008 Green Thumbs Tree Climbing Competition results

Dear Station Members,

It is the utmost pleasure of ISA HK/China to announce to you that our Tree Climbers have achieved excellent results at the 2008 Green Thumbs Tree Climbing Championship in Singapore on 13.9.2008 as follows:

1. Champion Chainsaw Operator --- Tony Ng, Deputy Station Manager of ISA HK/China

2. Champion Work Safety & Health (WSH) Practitioner --- Tony Ng, Deputy Station Manager of ISA HK/China

3. Champion Chainsaw Operator Second Place --- Mr. SY Ho in the name of ISA HK/China from Fung Kai Tree Climbing

4. Master Challenge Second Place --- Mr. KW Lee in the name of ISA HK/China from Fung Kai Climbing

5. Men's Speed Climb First Place --- Mr. KW Lee in the name of ISA HK/China from Fung Kai Climbing

6. Men's Head to Head Foot Lock First Place --- Mr. KW Lee in the name of ISA HK/China from Fung Kai Climbing

7. Men's Head to Head Foot Lock Second Place --- Mr. SY Ho in the name of ISA HK/China from Fung Kai Tree Climbing

8. Women's Head to Head Foot Lock First Place --- Miss LS Chau in the name of ISA HK/China from Fung Kai Tree Climbing

All in all, our Tree Climbers have collected 8 Awards at the 2008 Green Thumbs Tree Climbing Championship for ISA HK/China & HK. This is the best results that HK Tree Climbers have ever scored in any International Tree Climbing Championship.

Besides where they would come from originally in our territory, all above climbers are members of TCHK (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk) which is the training arm of ISA HK/China for practical skills in arboriculture including Tree Climbing, Chainsaw Operation, Aerial Rescue & Rigging. TCHK runs regular classes in Fung Kai School or Eurasian Garden nearly every Sunday for public entries.

It is our congratulation to the contestants who have worked so hard to bring honour to ISA HK/China & our territory. We also wish to thank Fung Kai School for providing the venue & facilities without which, there can be no Tree Climbing Champions of ours of today in Brisbane & Singapore. Modern Tree Climbing of ISA HK/China really started at Fung Kai School 2 years ago by the Station Manager to their students & the name of Fung Kai School will be down in history of modern arboriculture in China when ISA HK/China spreads into there later on in December.

Tree Climbing is on the rise in HK now & we have proven to the world that Chinese Climbers can compete internationally if we can be given facilities & proper training. It will be good if the HK Govt can consider to provide additional training ground in their parks or housing estates for us to develop proper Tree Climbing to the public, like Singapore is doing so in their city parks. With which, HK can certainly bring about further honours to our society & to arouse more interest to preserve & protect our trees by positively touching them.

Who would love a tree more than a Tree Climber who touches it?

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Contracting out Tree Inspection and Public Commnet on Tree Work)

*** 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 & attached are two sets of recent news concerning our local trees in the media:

(A) Contracting out Tree Inspection Work

The media has been asking for opinions among landscape professionals on contracting out Tree Inspection & Risk Assessment in HK. Some are in favour & some have reservation which is all natural in a free speech society.

The essence of the discussion really rests with the reliability & sustainability of contracting out the work, & how the work is going to be carried out & by whom. The HK Govt has by tradition employed many consultants in the engineering & planning field, & ISA HK/China has every confidence that our Govt has the ability to issue the right direction & requirement for contracting out Tree Work, if it ever becomes necessary.

There should also be a grading system as to which level of Tree Inspection is to be carried out by what level of expertise. For example, if the public untrained in arboriculture is to be invited to carry out elementary Tree Inspection work, then what should the see & report? The next level may be the Certified Arborist (CA) who are tested by 200 multiple choice questions only to become Certified. Then should they be asked to inspect trees which would require Tree Climbing for canopy defects? Should we decide on a size of a tree to be inspected for CA & beyond for a higher level like the Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) who has a better experience & reliability?

For a detailed Risk Assessment on a mature tree, the Tree Assessor would need to be familiar with subjects like Tree Biology, Tree Biomechanics, & Tree Work like Structural Pruning, Cabling & Bracing, Decay Detection Methods, etc. Tree Climbing is frequently necessary to inspect structural faults in canopy & the Tree Assessor must have keen observation & experience in the body language of a mature tree. ISA HK/China would recommend training in advanced Tree Biology of Dr. Alex Shigo & Biomechanics by Prof Mattheck as a basic start in carrying out this kind of work, & it appears that all these are way beyond the testing requirement in the current CA exam.

It is therefore apparent that different level of expertise would be necessary to do different level of work, & every level should really take part to form a complete service to help our trees. Trees nowadays are public properties & they are regarded as permanent structures in our city, like lamp posts & traffic lights. Public participation would also encourage our public to protect trees & public resentment would be quelled once they have learned that trees are living creatures just like human beings. Trees do need care. ISA HK/China encourages public involvement in Tree Care & sees this is a way to better protect & preserve our valuable trees.

(B) Public Comment on Tree Work

This message is given in the attachment in Chinese from a local newspaper. ISA HK/China is only interested in the technical part for the discussion & not anything else.

ISA HK/China agrees with the Expert's opinion which is underlined in the message that to understand tree health, the inspector has to touch trees rather than photos alone. Tree Climbing may be necessary at times if canopy problem is suspected, e.g. decay & cracks. Tree Pruning has always been a complicated subject under intensive study at ISA all around the world. Pruning to a tree is like surgery to a human. Once any tree part is removed, it can not be nailed or glued back, & the tree will develop responsive growth to try to recover the lost part.

Another important consideration in proper pruning is the Wind Loading on a tree after pruning & in future growth. It appeared in our territory that a lot of trees failed its parts after pruning, not after installation. If the pruning creates large wound which can not be successfully compartmentalized by a tree lacking vigour, the decay would develop inside to spread to the root crown & topple the tree in wind. In the opinion of ISA HK/China, what trees have suffered most in our territory is from bad pruning, yet proper pruning would require the knowledge of Tree Biology & Wind Mechanics which are beyond the knowledge of common landscape workers. Pruning is much more than cutting at the right angle from Brach Bark Ridge to Branch Collar, but on why, where & how much to remove with what.

Tree Work is specialist skills known around the western world. Even in Britain among the many British Tree Experts discussed with the Station Manager in ISA meetings & communication, Tree Work over there is usually handled by their Arboricultural Officers who are trained & experienced Arborists. If HK is to carry proper tree care, this may be the general direction we suppose. We respect that our LCSD has the most number & experienced Arborists & best equipment in our Govt to carry out Tree Care. It would be good if LCSD may wish to help out on that.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

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

市場足承接外判樹木管理

9月10日 星期三 05:10

【明報專訊】康文署正研究是否需要把樹木護理工作外判，有園境師和樹藝師皆表示，本港有足夠承建商和樹藝師接收約72萬棵樹木，包括逾500棵古樹的檢查和護理工作；但有樹木專家表示，全面外判可能導致質素參差，建議康文署保留護理古樹的權力。

港有逾10間綠化承建商

園境師學會前會長、香港顧問園境師協會主席劉興達表示，本港有10多間綠化承建商從事綠化工作，包括園景設計及規劃、樹木檢查及護理等，部分一直為康文署工作，若政府開放保育樹木工作，相信有足夠能力承接。他又指出，政府可透過制訂保育樹木政策，監管園境師和承建商分區管理約72萬棵樹木，「當局可按區招標，聘請顧問公司評估區內所有樹木的重要性、存在風險及護理方法等，撰寫報告和落實護理計劃」。

國際樹木學會中國地區分會會長歐永森指出，本港約有110名註冊樹藝師，「樹藝師只通過筆試，與具實戰經驗、攀樹師牌照等的獨立執業樹藝師（IPA）不同，IPA 能為檢查報告負上法律責任，亦不偏幫政府或保育組織，能獨立工作」。本港現有5至6個執業樹藝師，有能力檢查全港樹木。

環團憂外判商參差

身兼樹藝師的長春社保育經理蘇國賢指出，他認為外判商的質素參差，而且會隨重新招標而不斷更替，不宜負責保育古樹工作。「始終古樹一死就沒有，康文署不能只看外判商的報告就當完成管理工作。」他認為古樹的管理應由康文署負責，至於其他樹木，則可透過加強監管外判。

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Tree Work Accident in Lantau 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,

Below is yet another sad case of Tree Work accident which, according to the media report, has resulted in critical injury of a Tree Worker while he was cutting down a 20 m tall Eucalyptus citrioda in Lantau Island yesterday. The tree was said to fall unexpected in the wrong direction to pull the crane lorry along with it, hitting & pressing the Tree Worker while he was trying to escape. From the photos so shown, the section of tree would weigh at least a ton to cause serious damage to any human being underneath.

Tree Work is very dangerous!! In the West, Tree Work is mostly carried out & supervised by trained personnel like Certified Tree Worker (CTW) or equivalent, & would not be administered by construction workers or ordinary landscape workers. ISA HK/China also does not believe our current Govt Specialist Contractors are trained in Rigging, Tree Climbing, Arboricultural Safety Procedures, Tree Pruning & Chainsaw Operation like an ISA Tree Worker, & would recommend at least a CTW to be present on site to supervise or carry out any proper Tree Work, if not an Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) who is expert in both.

Tree Work appears to be carried out some time somewhere in our territory everyday. ISA HK/China frequently hears accidents due to one reason or another. We have also noticed that this critical injury did not draw as much attention in media like the Stanley Tree Failure case. Would it be because it was a construction worker who got hit this time & not a prominent member of public? Or would it be becasue it was not a case resulting in fatality? Would any improvement in working procedure or supervision be reviewed & by whom?

In any case, Tree Workers in our industry may have to take special prayer at present to protect themselves. What else can?

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

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

工人鋸樹走避不及被壓危殆

9月18日 星期四 05:15

【明報專訊】東涌昨日發生罕見「塌樹」傷人意外。數名工人在東涌道鋸斷一棵高20米、直徑1米的大樹時，為安全計已利用24噸吊臂車及鐵鏈固定樹身，惟大樹被鋸下時疑因樹身太重，吊臂車不勝負荷被扯至翻側。一名工人走避不及被大樹壓傷背部，重傷昏迷，由工友合力救出送院搶救。

受傷工人歐國輝（譯音），35歲，由救護車送往瑪嘉烈醫院 ，經搶救後情况危殆。警員調查後相信事件無可疑，正了解是否因工序出錯引致意外，已聯絡勞工處 及有關部門跟進。

24噸吊臂車被拉至翻側

現場為大嶼山東涌道北行線近18區墳場路邊，路政署在上址進行東涌道擴闊工程，外判工程公司工人需將路旁數棵俗稱「檸檬桉」的桉樹鋸除。數棵桉樹均約20米高、直徑約1米，工人用鐵鏈綑綁樹幹後，再將鐵鏈連接到一輛24噸工程車的吊臂以固定樹身，然後用電鋸砍伐。

事發於昨午5時05分，歐某與工友在砍伐一棵桉樹時，大樹被鋸下翻側，疑因樹身太重，吊臂車不勝負荷被扯至翻側，在場工人大驚走避，但歐某走避不及被塌下大樹壓中背部倒地重傷，工友見狀合力將他救出，交由救護車送院。

路政署發言人表示，東涌道擴闊工程根據設計，承建商需在工地範圍分別移除、移植及新植樹木，數目共超過20萬棵。這次塌樹傷人意外，署方已要求承建商提交報告。

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Tree Rigging at Jockey Club Tak Wah Park, Tsuen Wan)

*** 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 & Media Friends,

Attached are two sets of newspaper cutting concerning the Tree Rigging at Jockey Club Tak Wah Park in Tsuen Wan. The Station Manager hereby provides his side of the story with him commanding on site everyday for the work. This report is written under our Station Principles of Integrity, Professionalism, Participation, Fact-finding & Truth-telling with the knowledge & witness of an Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA). Station Members would appreciate the quality of an IPA in our territory, to comment on specialist work of this kind as entirely different from general landscape work of our Govt Approved Specialist Contractors.

To state out some facts, rather than just attending a 3 day session to complete the Tree Work for the two Erythrinas in this Park as acknowledged by the public, the Station Manager & his contractors have made 3 study trips prior to the work to ascertain Rigging Points & Work Plan. The final cleaning up of the brush was actually completed at 5pm on Saturday 13.9.08. It therefore took 3 days for the planning, 4 days for the rigging & 1 day for the cleaning up, making it a total of 8 days for the whole process.

One of the 2 Erythrinas was actually leaning towards a Third Class Historic Relic within the Park & any property damage there would be unthinkable. The bigger tree was situated in a peninsula straddling a lake with lamp posts, wooden railings & other structures underneath. This Park was always full of visitors at all times & a lot of them appeared to enjoy looking for attractions to entertain themselves. Then there were the TV & newspaper reporters with cameras & constant phone calls to the Station Manger asking for progress & judgment on why & worthiness to remove the trees. Social sentiments were strong to retain all or part of the trees & one Legco Members has advised the Station Manager to cut to a higher level in order to quell public outcry. The Station Manager has become the focus of the media, but has stood firm to carry out his duty as he was told.

On the equipment side, the Station Manager has deployed 1 no. of 10 inch extended chainsaw, 2 no. of 12 inch top handle chainsaw, 1 no. 14 inch top handle chainsaw, 2 no. of 18 inch back handle chainsaw & 1 no. of 30 inch back handle chainsaw, plus a varieties of Pole Saws & Hand Saws for the cutting. Among all 7 chainsaws employed, all has broken down eventually with the exception of the Oleo-Mac 18 inch chainsaw which was bought on the last day in Reclamation Street to complete the root stump grinding work. 3 rigging lines were also damaged & have to be thrown away. Then there were damages to Pole Saws, climbing equipment & accessories of all kinds since the work was demanded to be all completed including brush removal by evening of 13.8.08, so that the Park could be open safely for use for the Mid-Autumn Festival starting in evening of 13.8.08.

The work began at 8am on Tuesday 9.9.08 with LCSD staff repeating the Tomograph to finally ascertain decay positions. The cutting the smaller Erythrina began at 10.30am under care & the work did not stop to until nearly 8pm in the evening. In the cavities of both Erythrinas, there were concrete fillings of the past, steel nails, steel wires, roof tile chippings & rock particles which damaged the chainsaws one by one. There were also hundreds of insects of all kinds extruding from the trees as the cutting progressed & every climber was full of sawdust from head to toe during the climb. It was sunny & hot day everyday during the work & when the sweat mixed in with the sawdust & exhaust fumes from the chainsaws, the Station Manager would invite anyone disagreeing with Rigging to try to mix with us to enjoy the sensation of work of a Professional Tree Worker.

Among the heat, the exhaustion & the watchful eyes of the media during the Rigging, the work had to be completed within a designated time frame before the Mid-Autumn Festival. Any delay could invite attack from the public. Most of the Tree Workers who took part in the Rigging practically slept only 4 - 5 hours a night during the work & had all taken the Rigging work as a mission to demonstrate the exceptional quality of ISA Tree Workers in our territory. They all have an intention to show our public that Tree Workers are not the same as general landscape workers & they were proving this by deeds.

At the moment when the last piece of 3 meter trunk finally fell to the ground for the big Erythrina at 7.45pm on Friday 12.9.08, after wiping off his sweat & settled his emotion, the Station Manager looked up to the sky & said to himself:

"Kitty, we have done this one for you. We have removed yet other hazardous tree in HK for your sake."

It was a calm moment. There were smiles among all 6 workers who took part. The sky also appeared to smile back at us with a bright moon & passing cloud ...

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

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

ISA HK/China --- Tree Stories of RTHK (Last Episode)

*** 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,

Please kindly note that the last episode of the Tree Stories of RTHK will be shown at 7 pm of Tuesday Sep 16 on ATV Chinese Channel. This particular series will focus on the Arborist Profession, Tree Inspection, Tree Climbing, Structural Pruning & Tree Removal. This is a program worth recording for future reference since the knowledge & demonstration contained were not commonly shown on TV in HK in the past.

Those of you who complained about that you did not see very much of the Station Manager in the previous series should be seeing a lot of him in this coming one. The Station Manager will be providing comments as an Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) on how to carry out proper Tree Work, & by the way, Tree Work is not only all about Tree Climbing alone, but along with many others. The Certified Tree Worker (CTW) credential in our territory has sometimes been mistakenly taken as a little better than an ordinary construction worker or gardener. While there are over 22,000 Certified Arborists (CA) in the world & only around 750 CTW, there must be something special about this functional credential.

The CTW exam has always had a very low passing rate in our territory & the CTW practical test has to climb a real tree with approved equipment & skills to imitate proper Tree Work on a tree. The Station Manager is not ashamed to say that he has used all these skills in removing the two ailing Erythrinas in the Jockey Club Tak Wah Park in Tsuen Wan in front of an ocean of media & public. He did not quite believe an ordinary construction worker could do the same within the time frame, under heavy pressure & potential danger to satisfy the curiosity of the media & public in this kind of work.

Arboriculture is definitely on the rise in HK & China now like never before. ISA HK/China will push hard to bring our skills & knowledge up north to benefit our 1.3 billion brothers & sisters to have safer & better trees in their +900 cities all over China, one tree at a time.

Happy viewing of the last episode of Tree Stories to all of you.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

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

ISA HK/China --- 2008 Green Thumbs Tree Climbing Competition

Dear Station Members & Media Friends,

Owing to the sudden explosion of workload on the Station Manager after the fatal tree failure case in Stanley, it has become impossible & inappropriate for the Station Manager to be away from HK before the Mid-Autumn Festival period of now to Sep 16. It is therefore the biggest regret of the Station Manager to inform all of you that he can not attend the Green Thumbs Climbing Event in Singapore to take our Climbers to compete for our territory, despite all travel arrangement has already been booked & paid for.

On the other hand, ISA HK/China has designated our Deputy Station Manager Mr. Tony Ng to go in place of the Station Manager to this important event. We would advise anyone requiring information or liaison for this event, please kindly contact Tony for help & organization.

As for our Media friends, the Station Manager is open for calls from 7am to 10pm everyday as usual during this period. Please call in at 9090 6719 for any of your enquires on arboricultural matters with pleasure.

Thank you all for your kind attention.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Awakening of Tree Care in HK)

*** 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,

Ever since the fatal Tree Failure in Stanley on 27.8.2008, ISA HK/China has received enquiries on Tree Care practically every hour during daylight, from media, estate management, private homes & Station Members. The whole of HK appeared to go into frenzy all in a sudden about our trees. The Station Manager has been in the landscape industry as a profession since 1984 & has never seen the HK public paying so much attention on Tree Care any other time.

The internet news below gave information of the Memorial Service of the lovely angel Kitty on 5.9.08. The Chief Executive His Right Honourable Donald Tsang & Wife, & the Secretary for Home affairs Mr Tsang Tak-sing both attended the ceremony & offered their condolences. Many wept & cried at the service. The whole of HK appeared to grief in sorrow for the departure for such a young talent sent off by a failed mature tree.

This Station has been asked many times after the tragedy on what to do next. How should we weigh tree preservation against safety? How can we prevent future Tree Failure? Who should be liable should future failure happen again?

As mentioned time after time in past, ISA is a research & education organization & we do not get entangled with politics. However, in order to have our trees to become assets instead of liabilities in our community, we would recommend our trees to get special attention from design, selection, installation, maintenance, regular inspection, risk management & construction protection all the way. If mistakes are made at any of these stages, it is unlikely that we shall get good trees at the end. Particular focus should be paid at using quality trees for structure & health, other than just for flowering & scent. This Station has received reports from contractors on some of our 'flowering' species that they twisted like wrangled washings after Typhoon Nuri. Then what's the point of having them 'flowering' if easily failed?

Nursery Stocks Selection is another important area to focus upon because safe planting begins with safe trees. Trees with poor structure & health would require heavy future maintenance, if selected on site. For trees to arrive site in acceptable condition, packing & transport are both important consideration, or else they would become unsafe trees if not done right. This is one area that the Station Manger is trying to teach at the BLS course in CICTA later.

Structural Pruning to a young tree is like education to a young person. If Structural Pruning is not given at the correct time, it would be like youngsters growing up not going to school. The trees would grow in any manner as they please without direction & this would lead to heavy maintenance & perhaps potential hazards later. If incorrect pruning like topping is given to provide short term solution, the tree would usually develop into a long term liability & maybe even a Time Bomb.

When a tree is getting old & not regularly inspected, it may shed parts unexpectedly to become a tangible hazard. Then if hazards are not attended & corrected immediately, the tree or its parts may fail eventually to hit someone or something below.

It can be seen that putting in a tree is like giving birth to a human. We should not do it for pleasure & have to think about the responsibilities & liabilities after. Then if we think trees are so much troublesome & burdensome to be something to completely discard, then do we all want to live in a desert or in a concrete jungle without trees??

The departure of Kitty is sad, but she did not go in vain. She has wakened up HK to take a serious look at our trees to ask questions. In closing, with the same passion like all those with good hearts, we would say:

"Kitty, we all love you. Arborists in HK will remember you & you have wakened up our public on trees. Smile at us from above constantly, & we shall smile back ..."

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

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


莊頌賢安息彌撒特首弔唁

(星島)9月6日 星期六 05:30

如天使般善良可愛的莊頌賢，不幸於赤柱塌樹意外中離世，無論是否認識她的人都感到痛心。頌賢的母校聖保祿學校昨為她舉行安息彌撒，近千名死者生前好友及學校師生出席哀悼，儀式上不少人傷心落淚，氣氛莊嚴傷痛，一名參加安息彌撒男子疑傷心過度暈倒。特首曾蔭權及夫人、民政事務局局長曾德成均有出席，慰問死者遺屬。

　　　　赤柱塌樹意外中死亡的莊頌賢離世十天，其母校聖保祿學校昨晨七時許，於基督軍王小堂，為頌賢舉行安息彌撒，近千人出席懷念這名年輕活潑女孩，包括頌賢父母、胞姊、生前好友、學校師生、特首曾蔭權、民政事務局局長曾德成、港大醫學院教授楊紫芝及聖保祿醫院院長方津生等。

　　唐英年曾德成送花籃

　　彌撒開始前，眾人排隊於入口的悼念冊簽名送上祝福，校方備有一本印上頌賢照片的祈禱文。頌賢父母及胞姊均穿上黑色衣服，他們在女校長黃金蓮及親友陪同下坐在教堂第一行，各人神情哀傷。曾蔭權及夫人進入教堂後，先上前慰問頌賢家屬才就座。

　　教堂內外放滿親友致送的花籃，特首曾蔭權、政務司司長唐英年、民政事務局局長曾德成亦有送上花籃慰問。教堂內座無虛設，祭台前放着一幅頌賢遺照，照片中她穿着淺啡色上衣，臉帶微笑，給人溫婉感覺，儼如一名小天使。遺照兩旁放滿高雅的白玫瑰及百合花，祭台亦點燃了蠟燭，教堂內充滿莊嚴及沉痛氣氛。

　　昨晨七時四十五分，彌撒正式開始，儀式以全英語進行，全體首先肅立唱聖詩「Amazing grace」，其後神父致詞悼念死者，並祝願她主懷安息。一名六十多歲男親友疑傷心暈倒，在場的方津生醫生即上前協助，將他送往鄰近的聖保祿醫院。

　　男親友傷心過度暈倒

　　彌撒尾聲時，曾蔭權夫婦領取聖餅後離開。彌撒儀式為時一句鐘，完結時出席者均向死者家屬擁抱慰問，包括民政事務局局長曾德成，其中莊母接受慰問時不禁心情激動，與親友相擁痛哭。

　　事發當日與頌賢同往赤柱的男性友人，昨慰問頌賢父母後，在頌賢的遺照前合眼祈禱，離開時他與好友擁抱悲哭，經友人安慰後心情才稍為平復。莊頌賢的父母及胞姊，在親友陪同下離開。頌賢父親莊堅琪為外科醫生，他昨被記者問及政府怎樣做才能給予頌賢及市民一個交代，莊父表示還未想到，他與妻女向記者道謝後離開。

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。