ISA HK/China --- Incoming Mail (The Spirit of Supervision)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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 broadcast our reply by covering your personal details so that your identity is protected as our usual practice. We have been asked several times on the same topic in the past.

Your enquiry is of a common nature in our territory in the belief that books & lectures can cover all knowledge & credentials alone can help to conduct good work. This common hypothesis would not stand up in the Arborist Profession internationally unfortunately.

We would direct you to first of all understand the word of 'Supervision' in dictionary. In the computer dictionary of Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supervision), this term would be defined as:

"Supervision means the act of watching over the work or tasks of another who may lack full knowledge of the concept at hand. Supervision does not mean control of another but guidance in a work, professional or personal context.

In work environments, a supervisor is one who oversees workers."

In other word, anyone conducting Supervision should be very knowledgeable in the trade, has experience in the work & is able to show or even take over the work from the subordinates when it becomes necessary.

In the case of Tree Pruning, we would expect the Pruning Supervisor to be able to climb to inspect tree, lay out a Work Plan, tell his/her workers exactly where to cut & with what, & is able to demonstrate chainsaw operation for cutting if his/her workers become subversive. In general term, the subordinates would only respect the senior if the senior is better & stronger than they are. If not, mutiny or feet dragging would occur to slow or mess up the whole piece of work.

Imagine an Army Sergeant who can not fire a gun. Would his soldiers listen to him/her in a firing practice? Or in the case of a Driving Instructor who can not handle the car?

Similar analogy would apply to other Tree Work like transplantation, removal or tree survey as you have mentioned. The Supervisor must be experienced, well trained & capable to conduct the assignment, before he/she is accepted by his/her workforce for Supervision.

ISA HK/China do not know of a Tree Work Supervisor in western country who can not climb, operate chainsaws or rig, but just waving credentials & qualifications on site. This person will become a laughing stock among the tree workers.

Therefore, perhaps your enquiry has been answered in an indirect manner & we hope you would now appreciate why ISA HK/China had set up the IPA (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/08/isa-hkchina-independent-practicing.html) credential to ensure our Practicing Arborists can design & supervise Arboricultural Work in any form it may arrive. The IPA is the next step to aim after your Certified Arborist credential & the conditions to become one would ensure you to be good enough to carry out Tree Work Supervision along with others.

ISA HK/China would expect you to have a long way to go before you would consider to conduct Supervision in Arboricultural Work after your first qualification.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

寄件人: xxx
收件人: Eurasian Garden Ltd / ISA HK/China
傳送日期﹕ 2009 年 x月 xx 日 星期x 下午 x:10:08
主題： 查詢

Dear Mr. Au,

I am recently qualified & I am asked to supervise tree work (pruning/transplanting/survey) by bosses. Any books you recommend to study to do well on site?

Thank you for reply.

Regards,

xxx

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ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Wanchai and Repulse Bay Tree Failure)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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 & below are two recent counts of local Tree Failure worthy for discussion in our Station:

1. Tree Failure in Buk Tai Temple in Wanchai (see attached)

This incident appeared on the local media may be because the fallen branches damaged a temple where prominent citizens are visiting. Other than that, there did not appear to be any significant value in this Tree Failure case when compared to many other Tree Failures on slope all over HK.

What has raised the eyebrow of this Station in this incident would be that this tree was said to be inspected by somebody just 3 months ago before the incident. As trees are developing creatures & they change shape & condition in reaction to the environment, it is very difficult to draw a line to say whether this tree must fail in a certain time. Tree Assessment is always an educational prediction in ISA knowledge so far & ISA HK/China would always recommend a Tree Assessor to possess the basic knwoledge listed in our previous Station Mail (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2009/04/isa-hkchina-tree-assessment.html), & not just someone waving credentials. Many Arborists around the world have tried to quantify Tree Assessment but owing to the many factors which can affect the calculation & modeling, not one single method has been adopted by ISA so far to be a universal method for standardization, including the use of Detection Tools for Decay determination (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2009/04/isa-hkchina-2009-isa-research-on-tools.html).

The Station Manger recently became involved with a similar case of Tree Failure somewhere in Kowloon leading to a law suit for property damages. He has issued a +20 page Expert Witness Report on the incident to comment on responsibilities & liabilities of the opposite side. This just shows that there is always a legal risk involved in carrying out any Tree Assessment if the damages can not be settled between the two parties, & Arborist is frequently the tool to provide independent opinion on the incident.

Let's hope it would not be the case for this one.

2. Tree Failure in Repulse Bay (see below)

This appeared to be a typical case of the client wanting a 'flowering' tree to be grown in his/her compound & expected the tree roots to grow to the centre of the Earth to hold the tree against wind.

It can be seen from the photos given that there were hardly any roots adequate for anchorage, yet the tree had developed a full crown above to attract wind. Then when adequate wind pressure exerted on the crown, the tree body simply toppled over like a domino card.

In Arboriculture, we always say it is 'Mother Nature makes the Rules, not anybody' for Tree Planting. A tree may be planted there for 'flowering, scent or Instant Effect', but it will be Mother Nature to determine whether this tree is going to last, & would fail it when conditions are met.

Would the public be willing to listen to the Arborists gradually?

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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

淺水灣塌10米鳳凰木險壓學童

(x報)2009年9月12日 星期六

【x報專訊】毗鄰國際學校的港島淺水灣別墅，昨晨有一棵逾10米高的鳳凰木塌下，粗壯枝椏擊毁數輛薄餅店外賣電單車。附近保安員稱，事發前有學童行經，幸沒被壓倒，否則恐重演塌樹殺人慘劇。香港大學地理系講座教授詹志勇指大樹被埋在「層層疊」的石屎層中，令根部組織壞死，最終不勝負荷「齊口」折斷。

毗鄰國際校 兩學生剛行經

倒塌的鳳凰木逾10米高，樹幹直徑近一米，根部被直徑兩米的花崗岩包圍，植於淺水灣道78至80號的淺水灣別墅範圍內，屬私人管理樹木。屋苑保安員稱，該樹每年都有專人修剪樹椏和除蟲。街坊對大樹突然塌下深感可惜，但慶幸未有造成傷亡，「隔籬商場有一間國際學校，很多學前幼童上學，塌樹前就有兩個學生行過，好彩避得過，否則壓死人」。

事發昨晨9時許，巨大的鳳凰木突然向海灘道35號商場方向塌下，壓毁兩道鐵閘，數米長的樹椏擊向薄餅店的外賣電單車，車尾外賣箱被打穿。消防員到場搜索後證實無人受傷或被困。

學者﹕樹根埋石屎層 嚴重蛀蝕

現場所見，鳳凰木樹根連著花崗岩砌成的底座「齊口」折斷，中間露出一個近半米的樹洞。有「樹醫生」之稱的專家詹志勇看過相片後指出，該鳳凰木樹齡30多年，樹根已被真菌嚴重蛀蝕，雖然仍能維持表面的枝葉繁盛，但其生長環境十分惡劣，「塌下是遲早的事」。

他指出，樹根是埋在不同新舊的石屎層下，顯然是在不同年份有人用「一層又一層石屎疊上去」，卻令樹根埋在十分堅硬的泥土中，無法吸收養分和空氣，新根不長，老根被真菌蛀蝕，結果必會承受不了樹身重量塌下。

由政務司長唐英年統率的樹木管理專責委員會於今年6月發表報告，因私人財產受到《基本法》保障，故認為不宜立法監管私人土地上的樹木。詹志勇認為，「石屎封樹」在公共及私人場所均十分常見，容易發生意外，「最重要是種樹前考慮到樹木會長大，並訂出長遠計劃」。

放大
逾10米高的鳳凰木倒塌後，可見其底部與花崗岩砌成的底座一起「齊口」折斷。
放大
鳳凰木塌下，粗壯的樹椏折斷跌入圍牆後，數輛薄餅店外賣電單車被擊中損毁。

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (DP on Tree Law)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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 piece of HK News re-asserting the cry for a local Tree Law to protect any tree from interference, even for those which are outside the lease control in current Land Regulation. In principle, the intention is all good for Tree Preservation in our territory.

On the other hand, ISA HK/China would draw our Station Member's attention to the following issues not mentioned but worth considering in the preparation of any Tree Law in HK:

1. By enacting a Tree Law to protect all trees (including private trees grown in private land), would it prevent the affected trees from intentional removal before the Law would come into effect? Would it really save our trees at the end instead of having them chopped off willingly for avoidance of supervision? Can we prevent this from happenning before the Law is enacted? How?

2. Would the public, especially those land owners in the rural areas, accept such a Law intending to deprive their ownership of their own trees? Would it lead to commotion among the rural public as seen with other interfering policies in the past? Would this disturb social harmony & what for?

3. What kind of control other than Tree Retention is going to be implemented for this future Tree Law? Who is going to decide whether a tree is to be retained, transplanted or felled? Arborists or somebody else? Have we not seen so many so-called 'trees', including bananas, bamboos & palms which live short & difficult to transplant, have been retained inappropriately in HK over the years? Who is going to accept liabilities if trees are retained incorrectly after so much public funding squandered?

4. Would the professionals making decision on Tree Retention be a neutral party with Integrity, Professionalism, with an attitude of Fact-finding & Truth-telling, or just someone who would write good to please the client for financial reward? What international standards are going to be used for making any decision? Would 'in-house' report, or an Independent Report from a Third Party without Conflict of Interest, be deemed acceptable?

5. Who is going to supervise the running of this proposed Tree Law? What kind of training is required as necessary for execution? Any Independent Tribunal for appeal?

6. If the retained tree eventually becomes a Time Bomb & kills somebody or causes property damages, who is the party going to undertake liabilities? Would it be the Tree Owner who is forced to retain the tree, or the Govt Agency enforcing the Law, or whom?

7. A retained tree will grow. In accordance with international practice, it will need to be maintained properly so that it can become an asset instead of a liability. We have seen too often that incorrect pruning has damaged many trees in HK, & a lot of urban trees have failed due to this. Who is then going to pay for this sustainable maintenance, with what standards of prqactice & supervision, & who will be qualified to carry out the work?

Above are just a string of technical & legal questions that the politicians would need to study & answer, before perhaps any Tree Law can be further conceived in HK. Otherwise, it would be like some of the current Technical Guidelines full of good intention but challenged continuously by the receiving end to make works slow & unsmooth. HK has seen too good wishes turned sour because of various reasons. Do we wish to see a repetition to happen for a future Tree Law as well?

The proposed Tree Law is likely to be one area that the the future Tree Management Office (TMO) is going to run into, or would be required to deal with, with skills, experience & research. ISA HK/China, through the mighty support of ISA from 50 countries in the past 85 years, will be willing to give the future TMO is helping hand, if we are ever asked to make our contribution.

For this we shall live up our word.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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


民主黨擬樹木法防濫伐
(x報)2009年8月31日

【x報專訊】民主黨甘乃威指出，現時部分私人地段的樹木不受保育樹木的條款管制，可以隨時遭砍伐或破壞，建議訂立《樹木法》防止事件發生，包括制定罰則、修剪或砍樹前須申請。該黨規劃師吳永輝則指出，現時罰則未具阻嚇性，建議把砍樹及破壞樹木等行為刑事化。

九成私地契沒保樹條款

發展局發言人回應，暫時以行政、公眾教育方法去保護樹木。吳永輝表示，80年代中期以前所批出的私人地契沒有保育樹木條款，無法阻止私人業主砍樹，雖然日後地契已加入條款，但估計現時約九成地契是在80年代中以前批出，即多數樹木不受保護。他又指就算是一些受管制不能隨意砍伐的樹木，例如在政府公地上的樹木，有機會以混凝土等方法遭人「毒害」，令樹木枯萎，他要求政府立法管制。

甘乃威擬10月提初稿

公民黨陳淑莊目前正草擬《樹木法》，民主黨亦會另擬《樹木法》，制訂罰則禁止在未授權下砍伐、移植、修剪、破壞樹木，除非已向有關部門申請。甘乃威希望10月會有私人草案初稿，屆時會與公民黨商討協調提出草案保護樹木。

放大
民主黨昨日在維園一棵古樹下舉行論壇，多名嘉賓批評現有法例未足保護樹木，包括現有保護樹木的政策未有法例支持。右一為民主黨甘乃威。

ISA HK/China --- Local 'Instant Effect' of Aug 2009

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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 are 3 counts of Tree Planting enquiries sent in by Station Members in the month of Aug 2009. We shall discuss the technical aspect of them as an education scenario only.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Scan008

This event has been exposed by local newspaper already & much of HK has acknowledged the fact that this tree planting could not be regarded as something sustainable, but would rather be taken as a quick 'Instant Effect' to satisfy greenery requirement.

The species chosen is Cinnamomum burmanii, which would grow to +8 m tall with a crown spread of +8 m easily, if room can be allowed for upper ground & underground development. One of the trees so shown was already blown over by wind possibly due to lack of root anchorage, & staking did not appear possible for a growing pot of such narrow width to be effective. Also, the pot is unusually tall with a small diameter bottom to balance the tree in wind, & was probably used while expecting root growth to be downwards instead of sideway.

If the trees in these pots are allowed to mature in time, the Wind Sail Effect in the canopy is likely to topple them owing to the top heavy situation. For all the work & cost so spent in this tree planting, the Arborist could simply see no long term benefit but rather potent liabilities if it is allowed to stay.

2. Rooftop Planting in North NT

Form the photos so given & attached, this appears to be a case of Roof Top Planting in the name of 'Greening' taken to the extreme for another 'Instant Effect'. Quite possibly the developer did not realize that they are in effect putting a full range of Time Bombs on their houses for future headaches.

To start with, anyone wanting to put trees of such maturity on a roof top, has possibly ignored the fact that trees will grow. Even if the planter size is big enough to let this tree grow to a certain extent, then what about the Wing Loading thumping tons of wood up & down in future on a roof top to likely damage building structure & waterproofing? This may not happen instantly, but what about in a few year's time?

Also, the species chosen appeared to be Ficus benjamina which can grow to +20m tall & +20m wide. Even if the structure can support the future weight, then what about the huge canopy in future catching wind in case of a typhoon? Wind is passing at higher speed away from ground, & the higher it is, the stronger it becomes. Wind is the biggest enemy of tree & can we sacrifice safety for 'good looking' or 'cooling' for tree planting?

Does the whole thing make sense?

3. KLN Tong Tree Planting

It was said that the developer wanted to green the wall behind & therefore a row of fast growing trees (Ficus benjamina again) were installed for an 'Instant Effect' to add Greenery. The trees were planted approx. 1.5 m apart with canopies already touching each other, & the planter width did not exceed 0.6 m. Any sensible person can imagine what is going to happen there in 3 years time.

While the canopy of the Row Trees is going to spread into the driveway next to it, it may be pruned back constantly for traffic passage. Crown Raising to be combined with Topping are likely to be performed by those 'Specialist Contractors' if no Arborist supervision is required. Also, since the canopy overhanging the wall on the opposite side would require Tree Climbing to prune, this side may be left unpruned since it does not obstruct traffic. Then we may get a row of lob-sided trees to favour away from the Driveway. In wind, the whole row of trees may simply collapse, or damage the wall structure with roots pushing in all directions.

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Since the above information was received as recent as only this month, it simply shows how heavy the workload it will be for the future Tree Management Office (TMO) to correct Tree Malpractice all over HK. It is always true that while we try to prevent trees from becoming dangerous, we should not allow more trees to be planted to become Time Bombs in the name of 'Instant Effect' or 'good looking'. The future TMO has a duty to lead HK to plant safe trees, & monitoring Tree Planting Design is one way to ensure Quality Tree Planting. Any design not following international practice or scientific requirements, no matter in what name it says, should not be approved by the TMO for installation, or else we may repeat mistakes of the past. It is always mother Nature makes the Rules, not anybody for tree planting.

ISA HK/China has great faith in the future TMO to correct Tree Malpractice in HK, & for this we shall support the TMO to the last word always.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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

ISA HK/China --- Incoming Mail (Seminar Training in HK/China)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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 message & enquiry. We broadcast the reply because we think it may of a nature of general interest to our Station Members, without disclosing your details as we usually comply.

It is a Station Policy that we do not comment on any training program or seminar without our participation, simply because we know of no details of what is involved. On the other hand, we would recommend you to study the program carefully to see if it fits your needs, & not just because of the packaging & advertisement. For example, if you are a beginner in the Arborist Industry, would you be able to understand what a researcher with years of academic experience in a specific field to talk about something specialized in his work without much regard to your level of understanding? This is something you would need to balance off before entering.

If the Motorist Association of HK is going to invite the World Champion of F1 Racing to give a session on 'How to win Formula 1 Race on Track', do you think a Learner Driver or someone who has just passed the Driving Test can follow the teaching? Or would the World Champion be interested to take the students by the hand on how to change gear in a corner? Then, are both sides matching?

In western countries, candidates learn Arboriculture through fundamental training programs like the 'National Certificate in Arboriculture' for Tree Biology, Tree Inspection, Tree Climbing, Chainsaw uses, to Tree Biomechanics. They would stay for approx. 3 years for knowledge & practice to first obtain their own National Qualification, & then proceed to the ISA Certified Arborist (CA) credential to become internationally recognized. However, this does not appear to be the case in our territory. Our candidates would prefer to take a short cut to go straight to pass the 200 multiple choice questions in the CA exam to obtain the ISA credential, & most would not revert to regain the basics in Arboriculture before going into private practice. This would be like building a skyscraper from top down. Would it really work?

ISA HK/China is currently considering to collaborate with quality international trainers to begin courses in Basic Arboriculture leading to a National Certificate of some kind. The training may take long, perhaps even more than a year, but it will be beneficial to someone who really wants to stay in the Arborist Industry instead of of dashing in to grab quick cash. Arborist Work is a legally sensitive profession & foul play can lead to Court Scenario as seen many a times in western countries. ISA HK/China would like to see the Arborist Profession develop healthily in our territory instead of just a quick flash.

I am attaching a similar Station Mail on 'World Champion to train HK' some time ago for your interesting study. You are welcomed to contact me at 9090 6719 anytime for any further discussion.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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


----- Original Message -----
From: xxx
To: egc@netvigator.com
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 7:52 PM
Subject: seminar training
Hi Sammy Au,

Do u recommend me to join the attached seminar training? Why don't the Station organize advanced seminar to us?

Thank you.

Regards,

xxx
Yahoo!香港提供網上安全攻略，教你如何防範黑客!了解更多

ISA HK/China ---- TMO is a Repetative Structure?

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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,

The following newspaper cutting was sent in by a Station Member without any comment. ISA HK/China thought that this Station Member was looking for a response & therefore we broadcast.

Ever since the announcement of setting up of the Tree Management Office (TMO) on 29.6.09, there has been a one sided criticism from the media & politicians for reasons beyond the understanding of ISA HK/China & our Arborists. In the radio interview at CR 1 & TV broadcast of Now TV both on 29.6.09, the Station Manager was shocked to hear complaints from every participant to paint the TMO as a repetitive structure wasting public funds. Then only weeks before the TMO was announced, the media were discussing that HK did not have an authoritative organization to coordinate the Tree affairs. Are the public now contradicting themselves?

For any organization to operate efficiently, it must have a leader. This is like a person having a brain to tell the other parts of the body what to do. Among those critics who would belong to some kind of organization themselves, be it the media, political group or what, doesn't that organization of theirs have a Director or Committee to steer their events? Then what's wrong of having the TMO to lead the Tree Affairs in HK?

Some say that they would want a local Tree Law. ISA HK/China has reviewed the Parks & Trees Act of Singapore (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2009/03/isa-hkchina-study-on-parks-and-trees.html) which would be regarded as the most relevant for HK, if HK would really consider setting up some form of Tree Regulations. However, the critics would divert themselves to places like Taiwan & China where Topping is an acceptable practice to guide our public. They also could not answer the concern of having private trees deliberately removed before the Tree Law could be set up to avoid supervision. Would this kind of attitude really help the trees in HK?

One of the functions of the TMO is to coordinate all Govt Depts dealing with trees from design, operation to maintenance to make our trees safe & functional, rather than just 'flowering & scent' alone. The TMO would need to renovate the traditional practices to pick out the incorrect & replace with proper. The tasks ahead are grave & serious, & public support is needed because the TMO will eventually run into clashes with people with traditional interest. Any change would mean their interest is harmed.

On the other hand, maybe the critics have something else on mind. Interestingly, none of the critics so far would like to confront the Arborists to talk face to face in a public situation to discuss how to plant trees on a technical sense, but rather would drag in politics & sentiment to try to please the public onto their side. Would this be really good for the Tree Development in HK?

ISA HK/China is now the most influential organization to talk with international practices on trees in HK. We do not follow comments or ideas if they do not comply with international knowledge & experience, no matter where they come from. We believe in Integrity, Professionalism, Participation, Fact-finding & Truth-telling in our professional attitude. This is what makes us grow from one person to +1,000 Station Members in just 4.5 years.

We believe that HK still has a lot of people who have clear mind to distinguish between justice & malice. ISA HK/China strongly believes in the future duties of the TMO & would support it as long as it can follow international practices & to be guided by the right persons. We believe the TMO would do HK good.

For this we shall have faith.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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


【本報訊】政府堅決不肯訂立樹木保護法，被各方批評政府在保護樹木只講不做。屯門區議員陳雲生在《ontv》評論節目《就係敢講》批評政府在處理樹木問題上政出多門，最終就是無人負責。他說現時有超過十個部門處理樹木問題，但各自為政，每個部門處理樹木各有不同的方法和準則，例如樹下的土地是一個部門管理、樹身又一個部門處理，撥款工程處理爛木又是另一個部門處理，現時政府又說成立多兩個樹木辦事處，簡直就是混帳！疊床架屋，辦事處美其名是統一管理，但沒有解決原本的部門分工不清的問題，最終保樹都是一團糟！

陳雲生斥政出多門

陳雲生認為，要全面保護樹木，立法是最好的方法，令部門之間清楚釐定保護樹木的準則和責任，難以理解為何政府不肯立法，相信是高官對保護樹木意識不高，或是根本不在他們處理政策的首要考慮。他說連區議會轄下的小組亦會訪問內地保樹專家取經，之後參考他人做法向部門建議，但政府竟沒有培訓前線員工處理和保養樹木的方法，責任在於政府，但政出多門，令到部門之間互相推責，最終無人負責。

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20090807/00176_017.html

Yahoo!香港提供網上安全攻略，教你如何防範黑客!了解更多

ISA HK/China --- Incoming Mail (HK$ 500/tree for Tree Assessment ?)

Guidelines for Professional Fees for ISA Certified Arborist (CA) & ISA Certified Tree Worker (CTW) Services in Hong Kong (July 2006 Edition)

Introduction: The preparation of these Guidelines takes into consideration the charges of other related professional services in Hong Kong at the time of preparation, & has referenced similar services provided in other countries overseas. They are meant only as a reference for the general public & within the profession. These charges were designed to reflect the extent of professional services rendered and to cover the obligations required of a CA or a CTW in offering tree services. Significant deviation from these charges may require further justification and explanation by the service provider & employer alike.

(A) For CA services:

1. General Consulting (which includes but not limited to tree inspections, project supervision, in-situ planting consultation, on site response to questions, etc.):

a. If only a verbal assessment is to be given --- HK$4,000.00 minimum for a half days work of 4 hours, & HK$6,000.00 minimum for a full days work of 7 hours. An hourly charge of HK$800.00 minimum can be applied as overtime. Please note the CA has the right to include 1 hour for traveling in his time calculation, e.g. For a half day (or full day) rate, the CA can take 1 hour for traveling to site & 3 hours (or 6 hours) of actual work will be provided.

b. If a written report is to be submitted --- HK$6,000.00 minimum for a half days visit, & HK$10,000.00 minimum for a full days visit. This takes into consideration of the time, effort & liabilities incurred in producing a formal written report which is signed by the CA and endorsed with his (her) name & Certification No. The CA will assume legal liabilities for the accuracy of the information contained in any written report.

2. Hazard Tree Assessment

This is a more specific area of inspection which may involve the use of tools & skills.

a. If only a visual inspection is given without deployment of drilling tools & tree climbing equipment --- HK$ 1,500.00 minimum per tree. The minimum charge for any visit is HK$4,000.00 minimum regardless of the number of trees to be inspected for any one visit.

b. If visual inspection is given plus the deployment of drilling tools, or tree climbing equipment, or any other additional equipment --- HK$2,000.00 minimum per tree. The minimum charge for any visit is HK$6,000.00 regardless of the number of trees to be inspected for any one visit. This takes into consideration of the initial cost & maintenance of the equipment to be deployed. The CA may have to bring in a tree climber if he/she cannot climb & this cost is included in the above-mentioned charges.

A written report is considered to be an essential deliverable for any Hazard Tree Assessment.

3. Legal Consultancy

There are two major forms of acting as a consultant to lawyers for legal cases in Hong Kong, either as a 'Consulting Expert' who can advocate for the client, or as an 'Expert Witness' who must be impartial to the Court. Although the nature of the two services provided is different, the time & effort in acting for either are nearly the same. Either position can bring legal liabilities upon the CA. Therefore, the charges for acting as either will be the same.

a. To produce a written report as a Consulting Expert or Expert Witness --- HK$25,000.00 minimum for a minimum size report to include one site visit only, research, writing up and deliverables. This charge usually refers to a report requiring 3 days of work to complete. If the report involves more work, the CA can charge an additional HK$10,000.00 minimum per day's work on top of this minimum charge. For e.g., a report requiring 7 days to write up can be charged at HK$75,000.00 minimum for any one report.

b. To reply to any response from opposing lawyers --- This usually happens after the CA's report is delivered to the opposing side’s lawyers who may employ their own experts to challenge the CA's report. The charge here is HK$10,000.00 minimum per day's work for the CA.

c. To appear in Court as witness --- HK$10,000.00 minimum per day irrespective of the length of the Court session for that day. For e.g. if the Court session takes 3 days to complete, the CA can charge HK$30,000.00 minimum as a total fee.

d. To act as technical consultant to lawyers outside Court --- HK$2,000.00 minimum per hour with a minimum charge of 2 hours to cover for the traveling expenses.

(B) For CTW Services:

1. General Tree Climbing (which includes but not limited to tree inspection, crown hazard identification, animal rescue, other menial work on tree top, etc.) --- HK$4,000.00 minimum for a half day work of 4 hours, & HK$6,000.00 minimum for a full day work of 7 hours. Hourly charge of HK$800.00 minimum can be charged as overtime. Please note the CTW has the right to include 1 hour for traveling in his time calculation, e.g. For a half day (or full day) rate, the CTW can take 1 hour for traveling to site & 3 hours (or 6 hours) of actual work will be provided.

2. Specialist Tree Climbing (which includes but not limited to rigging, cable installation, utilities management, Show Climb, etc.) --- HK$6,000.00 minimum for a half days work of 4 hours, & HK$8,000.00 minimum for a full days work of 7 hours. An hourly charge of HK$1,000.00 minimum can be applied for overtime. Please note the CTW has the right to include 1 hour for traveling in the time calculation, e.g. for a half day (or full day) rate, the CTW can take 1 hour for traveling to site & 3 hours (or 6 hours) of actual work will be provided.

3. Climbing Instruction (for beginner climbers, recreational climbers, chainsaw use, seminars & lectures, etc.) --- HK$750.00 minimum per hour at a minimum charge of two hours.

The CTW is expected to bring along his/her own climbing equipment as part of the service.

Notes:

1. Lunch of 1 hour & coffee break of 30 minutes are not charged within the above services.

2. For any service or overtime occupying more than 15 minutes but not one full hour, it will still be charged at a full hour's rate. For any service or overtime not exceeding 15 minutes, no charge will be given.

3. Free access to site & cooperation of the client regarding information & facilities are required for any services to be offered by any CA & CTW.

4. The CA & CTW will cover himself/herself with Accident Insurance and Employees Compensation Insurance, & it is recommended that the Public Liability Insurance is to be provided by the client.

5. Variations to above charges may apply if the work site is located in a remote area with difficult access.

6. If the CA or CTW is required to work in exceptional weather such as typhoon, thunderstorm, Black Warning Rain, during unsocial hours from 7pm to 7am, or during Public Holidays the above charges may be doubled due to the extra effort involved.

7. These guidelines do not apply to overseas arborists working in Hong Kong due to their additional expenses on travel.


国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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,

It is heart breaking indeed to hear your information which has been reported separately by other Station Members to ISA HK/China for such unbelievably low cost for Arborist Service in HK recently. In fact, the CA Family of ISA HK/China has produced a Professional Fees Guidelines as per attached to guide the industry to compete not by the cheapest cost but by the quality of service with using a uniform pricing structure for all ISA credential holders (CA & CTW). Our territory has seen too many times that by offering a below the belt cost would usually lead to wanton work with foreseeable dispute between the employer & the service provider. The Professional Fees Guidelines also encourages the credential holders to advance themselves in knowledge & experience to receive continuous business, rather than just waving credentials alone.

The cost of HK$500 (HK$ 7.8 = US$ 1) per tree for a proper Tree Assessment may be the lowest in the world that ISA HK/China is aware of anywhere. Just imagine the CA has to arrive at site, inspect the tree from top to bottom, climb up with approved equipment & technique for Canopy Inspection, & then go back to the office to file a 4 - 6 page report with photos & description. Is all that just worth just HK$500 only? According to the Professional Fees Guidelines, the CA is entitled to be paid HK$10,000 for a day of service for this kind of work. If it is going to be HK$500 per tree, does it mean that the CA can assess up to 20 trees in a day? If so, this CA should be invited to speak in a public forum at ISA HK/China to share his/her work & experience with Station Arborists for public inquiry.

It appears that the feasible alternative to assess 20 trees in a day would be by quietly skipping Canopy Inspection without the employer noticing. This may be possible for private clients but usually not for Govt Depts who have their own CA's for site monitoring, unless that Govt CA is just as ignorant as the site CA to not demand Canopy Inspection with Tree Climbing or Aerial Inspection.

Therefore, take care in your cost bargaining with your prospective employer. The Station Manager as a leader in ISA HK/China has stood firm with the Professional Fees Guidelines every time in the past 4.5 years in any business negotiation. It will be the Guidelines or no deal. He has found the clients would gradually respect the Guidelines since they can calculate budget easily for employing Arborists. After all, the cost structure in the Guidelines is fair & reasonable to respect the time consumption of the Arborist in consideration of the nature of the service. Then why not follow it?

As a final reminder, please note every Arborist Report is a legal document & the CA/CTW signing it has agreed to undertake legal liabilities for their work. ISA HK/China has produced Station Mail on the requirement to conduct Tree Assessment in http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2009/04/isa-hkchina-tree-assessment.html . We generally do not recommend CA/CTW with only 1 year of post -qualification to conduct this kind of sophisticated work, & anybody throwing himself/herself into it without adequate knowledge & experience is exposing oneself for future liabilities including credential revocation. Please therefore pay particular attention to this.

ISA HK/China is now seriously contemplating with undertaking Arborist work in conjunction with appropriate contractors to supply quality CA/CTW to meet market demand so that delivery can be guaranteed as well as generating income for ISA HK/China, since we do not charge for membership to provide tangible service. This act would also encourage cohesion of Station CA's to actively participate in ISA HK/China for personal advancement to be picked for rotational service if any Arborist work is secured. However, ISA HK/China will be very careful in procuring this to ensure the development of the Station is not polluted or jeopardizing our mission.

ISA HK/China will evolve to meet modern demand continuously.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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


From: xxx
To: egc@netvigator.com
Cc: yyy
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 11:36 PM
Subject: Re: Tree Assessment

Dear Sammy Au,

We were approached for Tree Assessment service at HKD 500 per tree for a govt job.

Has the situation degraded to such an extent for CA's in HK that we are paid cheaper than a construction worker?

Can you comment publicly?

Regards,

xxx

ISA HK/China --- Incoming Mail (Queries on Local Arboricutural Training)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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 message to TCHK in Chinese. Your worries about the quality of the Local Arboricultural Training & future career prospect are indeed valid. ISA HK/China has taken note of your concern.

Indeed, the provision of Arbor Training in our territory is rather limited at present. Once again, we have to appreciate that ISA Arboriculture has really taken off only after ISA HK/China was set up in HK in Feb 2006. Within 4.5 years, HK has established a Tree Management Office (TMO) at a Govt level even higher than a lot of western countries. There is room for improvement for the training facilities to catch up indeed.

On the other hand, it is an ISA practice that the Chief Proctor & Proctors are not encouraged to take part in any credential training in order to avoid Conflict of Interest. The Station Manager who is also the Chief Proctor has obediently abided with this instruction, although he is allowed to train anything other than credentials in CICTA & Govt Depts. Please also note that it is an ISA Policy not to recommend or approve any training program in order to avoid any legal or moral responsibilities.

What ISA HK/China would say on your concern to seek appropriate training would be that you have to check whether the training complies with ISA exam requirements, if you are looking for an ISA credential at the end. You would also have to decide upon the capabilities of the tutors to deliver updated knowledge & experience, since ISA Arboriculture is an advancing profession with research coming out practically every 2 months. In western countries, tutors of ISA credential training are usually retired Proctors with years of experience in the Arboricultural Field both in knowledge & practical experience. HK may be short of this kind of personnel at present for mass education.

Please also note that by getting an ISA credential would not make you into a 'Tree Expert' instantly. The person passing a 200 multiple choice test to become a Certified Arborist has only pushed open the door of Modern Arboriculture to enter into this profound & deep profession. There are still many doors to push open in order to become a practicing Tree Professional (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/08/isa-hkchina-independent-practicing.html) , & most needed is personal advancement by self-study, research & learning from Senior Arborists. Joining ISA HK/China & TCHK is a start since you will meet other Arborists regularly, & share with their knowledge & experience. Polishing the credential alone in private would not make it shine for long.

Your worries about entering the Arborist Profession is justified & ISA HK/China wishes the future TMO to take note of it as well. We also wish the future TMO to take credit of the knowledge & experience of the Front Line Staff in various Govt Depts with their years of attendance in Tree Care, because these are the people who would touch trees day in & day out. Modern Arboriculture is a hands-on discipline & site experience is invaluable to take into account. Letting the Front Line Staff speak out without fear may help policy making & tree management go a long way to save administrative time & financial spending.

ISA HK/China hopes that we have addressed your concern. If not, you are welcomed to contact us anytime for further advice.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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



To: TCHK

" 轉貼自x報

【x報專訊】近年多宗塌樹事件，敲響前線護理樹木人員專業成疑的警號，有前線職員向本報表示，政府提供的樹藝課程優先給經理級職員報讀；亦有護理樹木的外判商坦言，坊間培訓機會嚴重不足，行內專業水平參差。中大專業進修及愛護樹木協會下月中將開辦首個樹藝專業文憑課程，希望提升業界專業水平。

'愛護樹木協會' 合辦 須實習27小時

「樹藝專業文憑課程」由身兼協會第一副主席的康文署已退休總康樂事務經理張耀江擔任課程顧問，涵蓋樹木病理、護理樹木等，並安排27小時的實習機會，資歷相等於英國國際樹木學會二級樹藝課程，但不等於考獲樹藝師資格。

張耀江指出，此乃本港首個針對樹藝的文憑課程，覑重訓練如何察覺樹木的健康問題，「政府各部門都要求地盤監工懂得這方面知識，但坊間能主辦這類課程的機構並不多，政府和私人機構都需要這方面的培訓，市場對樹藝人才的需求會愈來愈多」。

政府培訓不足 前線工報讀機會少

不願透露姓名的康文署樹木護理職員稱，政府的樹藝培訓不足，「有課程也先讓經理級職員報讀，我們前線工作的反而很少機會上堂」。
在康文署工作逾20年的他，曾參與署方的樹藝課程，但因人手不足，上司多次要求他「走堂」，「有時真的會怕，因為沒上一堂，巡樹或護理樹木時，真的不懂」。因此，他多次自資公餘進修。

他又指署方三,四年前曾安排職員到海外接受樹藝培訓，但每年只有一個學額，「很多時讀畢課程的同事不久便轉工」。

曾為政府護理樹木的承建商負責人盧先生指出，坊間的課程只教導簡單的護樹技巧，「一星期上兩堂，兩三星期便讀完，既不深入，又無銜接深化的樹藝課程，業界只為張證書，『為份工去讀』，質素參差」。

康文署﹕將補派5員工海外培訓

康文署回應稱，正計劃增加各項樹木護理的課程及學額，並曾為負責樹木護理的各級同事，包括經理及前線工人安排訓練。另外，署方將於2009至2010年度補派5名員工到海外參與樹藝培訓，並規定他們在完成課程後承諾繼續服務一段時間，約2至3年。

x報記者 zzz "

我想報讀樹藝師備考課程...紅色字的那部分, 另我猶疑起來..還有我是外行人. 有心轉工.. 完成這課程之後..能找到有關工作嗎?

xxx

ISA HK/China --- Incoming Mail (Tree Topping in Shatin)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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 message & subsequent phone call to address your concern. Your identity has been erased to protect your privacy as you have instructed.

What you have sent in may be the biggest Tree Topping Event that ISA HK/China is aware of after One Beacon Hill in Kowloon Tong, YMCA in Wu Kai Sha & Leung King Estate in Tuen Mun in recent years. From the photos given, there appeared to be no end to the extent of Tree Topping & the distance may stretch to a kilometer long. This would be quite a sight for our Tree Lovers to look at while they are cycling along the Shing Mun River Bicycle Track indeed.

To answer your enquiries:

1. To the best of our knowledge, there appears to be no Govt Regulations to forbid Tree Felling & Interference for private trees in private land currently, & may also be possibly the same in the near future even after the Tree Management Office (TMO) is set up. There are outcries to forbid Tree Interference in private land but as the Chief Secretary Office has mentioned, these private trees may be all gone in order to avoid supervision before any 'Tree Laws' can be enacted. To lose these trees before the Tree Laws can save them may defeat the whole purpose to protect them. This is a sad reality in HK indeed.

2. Public education may be the key to prevent further Tree Malpractice. Currently over the air & media, there appears to be more criticism on how the trees are ill-treated than constructive comments on how the trees should be well-treated. Topping is still practiced by many landscapers & management out of ignorance or convenience. Most Govt work would forbid Tree Topping, but what about the private work? How many of our public would understand the harm of Tree Topping, from where & from whom? Is it not a fact of life that trees in HK would fail more easily after incorrect Pruning than before?

As the Station Manager repeated said in his lectures & classes, Pruning will take at least a year to learn & more than a life time to perfect. Pruning is a huge topic concerning Tree Biology & Wind Mechanics, not appearance & survival. Pruning to a tree is equivalent to surgery to a human. What's cut off in a tree can not be nailed back or glued, & a tree would react to any cut with responsive growth. Therefore, Pruning must be performed or supervised by someone knowledgeable in the practical side of Arboriculture, preferably a Field Arborist (FA) or an Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA). If Pruning is to be carried out by any common gardener who would draw an imaginary line & cuts along with it, & then say any Epicormic Sprouting afterward is a sign of 'recovery', the tree will suffer from large wounds & decay development to only requiring replacement at the end. It is always Mother Nature makes the Rules, not anybody.

As for the solution to a lot of our Tree Malpractice in HK, ISA HK/China would look upon the future TMO to correct the situation for us. We have high hope for the TMO to lead HK out of the outdated knowledge of the past to design, install, maintain, inspect, assess & protect our current & future trees to turn HK a healthier & harmonic community to live in.

For this, we shall have faith.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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


----- Original Message -----
From: xxx
To: Sammy Au
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 8:36 AM
Subject: Shatin Race Course Tree Topping

Good morning Au Sir,

Some photos regarding tree topping for your information.

Questions here:

1. Any Govt regulations to stop this?

2. What can we do to prevent this in future?

I'll give you a call later.

Have a nice day!

xxx

Yahoo!香港提供網上安全攻略，教你如何防範黑客! 請前往 http://hk.promo.yahoo.com/security/ 了解更多!

ISA HK/China --- 2009 Research in Tree Transplant Shock

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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 2009 research of ISA on the common problem of 'Transplant Shock' in landscape tree planting. The contents are comprehensive & should be noted by anyone in the field to acknowledge the issue. Please ignore the funny underlining as the Station Manager was making notes of it while traveling on a bus for himself.

In our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China, Transplant Shock in Tree Planting is disliked by landscapers because it does not provide the so-called 'Instant Effect' to show developers & clients. The solution was thought to be by using 'Containerized Trees' usually 'root bound' (roots completely circling & filling the container) in a bag or pot so that little root disturbance would occur during the transplanting process. This concept appeared to derive from Greenhouse Production in which Plugs (seedlings planted in seed beds) would need to be root bound before transplanting to a bigger container. This method works well for short-lived & smaller plants like annuals & shrubs, but not for trees which will grow for dozens of years in urban landscape to massive sizes to cause excessive damage if failed.

Although without the apparent Transplant Shock after installation, root bound trees would develop Girdling Roots to strangle xylems & problems to gradually kill a tree in time. The process would take 3 - 7 years after installation depending on the species & once contracted, there is nothing that can be done to revert it. Also, trees with Girdling Roots will be much more receptive to Wind Failure by having a massive crown but a circling & tiny spread of roots to anchor the tree against wind. Tree Failure by Girdling Roots is a common phenomenon in many parts of the world, & one acceleration is by planting fast growing trees like Ficus in a small Tree Pit.

Girdling Roots may be just one area that the Tree Management Office (TMO) in HK would look into in future to minimize potential Tree Failure in just HK alone. The general Tree Planting Specification may also need to be revised to follow international experience to install safer & healthier trees to provide assets to our community instead of Time Bombs. Trees must not be selected for flowering & scent alone without regard to public safety.

The TMO in HK will have a long way to go if it is to provide genuine benefits to our community by overhauling what's not been done scientifically correct in the past.

May we all support the TMO to let it go in the right direction.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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

ISA HK/China --- Tree Management Office (TMO) in HK

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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,

In the afternoon of 29.6.2009, ISA HK/China was called up to attend the briefing of the Tree Management Review of the Chief Secretary Office (CSO) just minutes ahead of the Press Conference to announce the same event. To the delight of the Station Manager, CSO announced that a new Tree Management Office (TMO) will be set up at Bureau Level to coordinate the future Tree Affairs in HK in liaison with various Govt Depts, alongside with the Greening & Landscape Office which will look after the greenery issues in HK. The proposed structure of the TMO is attached for general reference.

The TMO is known to be the first of its kind in Asia at such senior level in Govt. It will become a landmark for HK to show our neighbours & will have an impact on Tree Care to similar municipalities in our region especially China.

The CSO has indeed picked a good time to announce the TMO, & it practically met little resistance form the media & public because most were busy focusing on the 7.1 march just two days after. The media feedback was relatively mild, although the press were picking on minor issues like Tree Laws & Structure Duplication for greenery, which at the end did not arouse much public interest as a whole.

The Station Manager was invited to attend a Radio Talk Show at CR 1 & then a TV Live Forum in the morning of 30.6.09 to discuss the same topic. It was apparent that ISA HK/China was the only organization supporting the TMO while everyone else was on the other side. It was all but uneasy time & the Station Manager was feeling like the Royal Engineers fending off the Zulus in the Battle of Rooke Drift in 1879 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2007/07/isa-hkchina-imaginary-arboricultural.html) .He was singing the 'Men of Harlec' all the way to cool his nerves & to stand by his principles.

It may be interesting to note that all who were against the TMO but none appeared to be players in the field, if they could be appropriately labeled as by-standers. ISA HK/China has not heard a single Station Member among our + 850 no. calling or writing in to oppose the TMO, & it is known that the majority of working Arborists in HK are in ISA HK/China. If laymen voices are to interfere with the professional opinion in the making of TMO, would it not be like the football fans making the Rules of the Game & not the Football Association or even the players? Or should the noisy passengers steer the boat for the Captain in uncharted waters?

It appeared that none of the critics has seen the genuine merit of the TMO as to release the Tree Management from the traditional Landscape System & place Tree Affairs back into the hand of the Arborists. Tree Planting involves public safety, & it can not be taken lightly as something to add flavor to the outlook. Trees must be designed, selected, installed, maintained, inspected & protected properly before they can become assets, or Mother Nature makes the Rules. Treatment such as Pruning without Diagnosis is Mal-practice. Arboriculture is a scientific discipline & unique enough not to be replaced or superceded by any other landscape discipline.

As now dust has settled & it's time to look ahead. We shall need to see the TMO to be managed by the correct personnel & to run in line with international practices. The future TMO will also need to work closely with ISA HK/China because we are connected to the +22,000 Arborists in ISA in +47 countries. ISA can supply a wealth of information, technology, management technique & education on proper Tree Care to the TMO unlimited & unknown by any other institute. If not, the TMO will be like trying to start up a Nazi Party in Israel, & the outcome will be soon & obvious.

In the opinion of ISA HK/China, the key to turn the tide for the media antagonism would be to offer many rounds of educational seminars on Modern Arboriculture to the public. Through CICTA programs, ISA HK/China has propagated correct Tree Care to thousands of candidates in the past few years in nearly every Govt Dept & within the local landscape industry. This is not enough & more should be given openly in public forum & discussion, to let the public understand what Modern Arboriculture is all about. In time, the public will come to support the TMO, after they have found out myths from truth under scientific research & technology.

The TMO is a beginning & not an end. The road ahead will be long & winding. ISA HK/China has gone through 4 difficult years to establish what we are today. The same will apply to TMO.

Maybe one day when the TMO is supported by the public & media in HK, Kitty Chong who raised herself to heaven in the Stanley Tree Failure may smile at us from above, & be called the Guardian Angel of the ISA HK/China Arborists, as she rightfully deserves.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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

ISA HK/China --- Station Development in June 2009

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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,

Besides the aerial adventures of Arborists in Tree Work reported to Station Members in the past two months, below are some of the recent Station Activities worth notifying our Station Members for their continuous support of our development in our territory:

1. Farewell to Mr. KW Lee for his Advanced Learning in Australia

KW Lee, a former Fung Kai Student with a neo-zero mark in his HK Cert Exam but with exceptional talent in Tree Climbing & Tree Work, has been arranged by Dr. Lawrence Chau & ISA Australia to further his studies in the practical side of Arboriculture under Master Arborist Mr. Phil Kenyon for one year starting on 1.7.2009.

Upon his return from Australia in June 2010, he will enter an agreement with ISA HK/China to be sent to Arizona, USA to prepare himself in Advanced Arboriculture Operations under Machineries for another year under the arrangement of ISA HQ to train this young man to international level in the working side of Arboriculture. This is seen to be the glory & honour of HK.

KW Lee has been offered this opportunity because of his dedication & exceptional performance in the practical side of Arboriculture by demonstrating himself as the HK Tree Climbing Champion in 2007 & the winner of the Footlock Event of the 2008 Asia Pacific Tree Climbing Competition in Australia. He has also collected several awards at the Singapore Tree Climbing Competition in 2008.

KW Lee is 20 years old, single & is promising to carry on our course to develop ISA Arboriculture in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. May we bid him farewell for a year & look forward to his return with advanced knowledge to show our territory next July.

2. IOSH Arboricultural Seminar

ISA HK/China will deliver a seminar on the safety aspects of Arboricultural Operations to the HK Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) on July 2, details as per the Flyer attached. Owing to the popular participation by IOSH Members to occupy all available seats in this seminar, ISA HK/China could not secure further attendance for our Station Members with regret.

ISA HK/China will generally offer free seminar to any relevant Institute or Green Group if the total attendance is over 150 no. The topic of discussion can be anything relating to Arboriculture from Tree Design, Installation, Maintenance, Inspection & Assessment, Protection to Legal Disputes. Property Management is one area we wish to focus upon because trees are indeed getting old there. Govt Depts are also welcomed to contact us for arrangement if they can meet the attendance requirement.

3. ISA HQ showing support for ISA HK/China at the proposed Tree Office at Chief Secretary

ISA HK/China has requested ISA HQ to issue a Letter of Support for ISA HK/China to introduce ISA Arboriculture for the proposed Tree Office at Chief Secretary of the HKSAR Govt. The official letter from ISA HQ was already delivered to the Chief Secretary Office (CSO) & the draft copy is attached for general reference.

As every Green Group & Tree Expert is trying to exercise influence in the making of the proposed Tree Office, ISA HK/China is also inputting our efforts to proclaim ISA Arboriculture to CSO & hope that the Tree Practices in HK will eventually follow that of international level to turn our trees into assets rather than liabilities. The show of support of ISA HQ will bond the support of our Station Members & bolster our standing further at CSO to be the representative of ISA in our territory. We indeed wish to thank ISA HQ for their kind consideration.

As we always mentioned that HK is only a small part of our territory, although an important part, it will be China the Old Dragon that we want to swing at the end & we shall need HK as a platform. If ISA Arboriculture can expand in HK, it will not be long before China will pick up her ear & find out what we are all about.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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

ISA HK/China --- Arborists in Action

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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,

HK has never seen the Arborist Profession becoming so busy in the past quarter of April - June with a lot of the Arborists in the private sector working desperately to cope with a sudden expansion of enquiries all over town. As for the Station Manager himself, he has been working without a single day of break from mid-April to date for Govt & private projects as an Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA, http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/08/isa-hkchina-independent-practicing.html) in Tree Assessment, Tree Felling & Structural Pruning. Tree Climbing & Chainsaw Operation were common place with scenes of high risk & unbearable stresses as a daily chore.

Media Interview was at the same time coming in en mass to discover the Arborist Profession as a hot topic in town. ISA HK/China has been interviewed by 3 TV stations, 2 radio stations, numerous newspapers & magazines in person & over the phone, sometimes as frequent as 5 times in a week. The public is now turning their eye on the Arborist Profession as Tree Doctors & Tree Detectives to look after our trees & a TV Drama Series is under planning for trans-China production on the daily life of Arborists & all the aerial adventures in it.

To share some of the immediate events with our Station Members of the Station Manager in his work, the followings are the highlights worthwhile for mentioning in the past few weeks alone:

1. Structural Pruning of a Heritage Tree at Tai Shu Ha, Yuen Long

This is a tree as famous as the Wishing Tree in Tai Po to the Yuen Long locals, & the Tin Hau Festival Procession will begin right underneath this tree every March with thousands of worshippers gathering around. One major horizontal limb had failed in the rain just after the 2009 Procession for this tree.

As Religion, Fung Shui & numerous opinions from 18 Village Chiefs & the District Board focused upon how to re-shape this tree to reduce risk, the Station Manger exercised his influence as an IPA to carry out the work to meet the satisfaction of all parties. A detailed Tree Assessment was first carried out to ascertain the Health & Structure of the tree & a pruning plan was devised under strict supervision of the IPA for every cut. The former Fung Kai Students so trained & are obedient to the Station Manager were hand-picked for the operation & no second opinion was to be tolerated due to the sensitivity & precision involved.

During the work execution, Yellow Rain persisted all the way. No one would shy away from his position & the Crown Reduction was faithfully completed in 2 days to the satisfaction of every party at the end. Photos of the tree before & after the event are attached for this memorable occasion for general reference. Arborists have provided an example for other Heritage Trees in HK to follow.

2. Tree Felling at a Public Park in HK Island

Please note the location of the tree can not be disclosed without permission of the Govt Dept giving the order. However, the notice for work was given in less than 2 hours owing to the urgency confronted & the tree was a dying Casuarina of 15 m x 0.6 m dia. trunk with dead wood as hard as iron. The Station Manager & his favourite Fung Kai Student KW Lee were given 4 hours to complete the job from 3pm - 7pm despite inclement weather with Tree Climbing & Rigging as the only option to take down this tree. Aerial Platform could not enter this location & there were too many properties below to perform Drop Cut.

It was again Yellow Rain & Yellow Rain all the way & photo taking was not possible. However, the ability & toughness of Arborists were demonstrated to the full to amaze the Govt Staff supervising at all times to see this hazardous tree coming down safely piece by piece in discipline & efficiency. Everyone was exhausted at the end of the operation & Arborists have won another battle against nature & adversities to show HK.

3. Felling of 9 Dead Trees in Hang On Estate, Ma On Shan

The Station Manager was called in by a landscape contractor to perform some 'Show Cut' with the intention just to amuse the supervising Management Committee of the Housing Estate as an initial arrangement for a meager sum, & then it turned out to be a full scale Tree Felling Operation with the Station Manager cutting alone as the only Tree Worker & Tree Climber with the landscape contractor & hundreds of spectators looked on as the audience for their entertainment.

The time & site restraints were the biggest challenge to take down these 9 Dead Trees of generally 20 m tall x 0.6m trunk diameter. Two of the trees also required Rigging & Road Closure was from 10am - 4pm only by a public arrangement. There were building structures liable to damages if hit by falling wood, & the spectators were not always cooperative to evict the Drop Zone by trespassing in. Two of the trees were also leaning away from the Drop Zone & had to be secured by a Tag Line to avoid hitting targets below.

As the trees were felled one by one, the public sentiment glowed from one of originally suspecting to supporting. After all, it was quite a sight to watch a 20 m tall tree coming down missing the Lamp Posts & landscape furniture underneath practically by merely inches. As the last & most dangerous tree leaning towards the Shopping Centre was preparing to come down, there was a moment of silence among the hundreds of spectators by then grasping their breath. As the tree eventually broke its fibers to give a splitting noise to fall on the designated location to fly off dust & water puddles, the crowds were frozen for 2 seconds, & then a loud round of cheers & applause blasted out after that. Most have never seen big trees coming down with such power & precision in an urban location & some have never seen Arborist in action in their life.

No picture was taken for this memorable occasion because everyone was too busy to focus on the danger & safety if only one branch did not hit the right place. The word of Arborist completing this job also quickly spread among the landscape contractor community & some are thinking again whether they would be comfortable to carry out this kind of work under their traditional method without the supervision or participation of an Arborist right now.

4. Felling of a 2.5 m diameter Celtis sinense in Tai Po

This was another job testing the ability & endurance of the Arborists as the SDU (Flying Tigers?) of the Landscape Industry with the entire 3 day working period in Yellow Rain & Thunderstorm. None of the Arborists involved stopped at that. Out of the 8 Chainsaws from 10 inch to 36 inch taking part in the operation, only one was still operational after non-stop cutting for 3 days at high speed.

This huge Celtis with co-dominant stems was highly hazardous with a crack in the trunk union & its canopy directly hanging over an electric cable which was the only power supply to the village houses nearby. There was a metal fence not to be damaged just one meter away from the trunk & Drop Cut was not a practical solution. The canopy was also covered with wild growth which had to be removed to expose the tree architecture before cutting. The entire tree weighed +10 tons & it had to be cut to 300 mm off the ground in just 3 days.

Anyone can imagine the physical exhaustion & danger with lightning flashes above the head & streaming rain to let the Arborists roll over in the soft mud swinging a 15 kg Chainsaw to cut the sections. Also, re-fueling & chain replacement had to be done with one person extending a plastic sheet to avoid water mixing in with the gasoline in the middle of a hill. The mosquitoes were like Kamakaze Pilots diving into any human flesh that they can detect & insect repellent was ineffective once mixed with the sweat & rain. The vibration of the 36 inch Chainsaw was shaking the arm muscles to numbness & the Station Manager was feeding himself with a spoon for 2 days because he could not manage chopsticks after work. This is not to mention the constant muscular pain which would roll him in bed to try to gain some sleep.

It was all good feeling of manhood & determination when the last piece of wood was eventually coming down from this monstrous tree. The sun appeared again to smile at the Arborists who have proven themselves to be a special breed of human being to defeat difficulties & to obey orders. The Arborists have again made a mark commemorable to show example of good human nature to overcome adversities, & to accomplish mission rather than just talk, talk & talk. One would feel really good to be standing on that hill to look at the results.

The above events are supposed to be educational & inspiring to anyone wanting to stay in the Arborist Profession in our territory. Arborists are praised to be a special breed & they are the SDU in the Landscape Industry. No one can really replace them.

ISA HK/China wishes to hear from anyone having similar experience to boost the Arborist Profession & is looking forward to receiving them for broadcast in Station Mail if appropriate.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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

ISA HK/China --- Incoming Mail (Arborists in Conservation)

国内朋友请使用翻译软件阅读本文。
*** 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 Ryan,

Thank you for your message & your phone call. ISA HK/China is disclosing your name & e-mail as you have requested, but we are still blurring your mobile no. to avoid you receiving direct reply to put your mind in peace.

In your attached letter & the given newspaper cutting, ISA HK/China is interested to focus on the following areas:

1. The newspaper comments are probably correct that Arborists are not conservationists, because Arborists around the world are known to be Tree Doctors & Tree Detectives primarily. Hardly any internationally renowned Arborists such as Dr. Shigo, Prof. Mattheck, Dr. Smiley & Prof. Harris are known to be conservationists, although among the Arborist Profession, we are all keen Tree Lovers & would not waste a single tree if it deserves retention upon a valid Tree Assessment. We tend to put priority in Public Safety over sentiment when it comes to Tree Retention, because we understand that keeping a Hazardous Tree would be equivalent to planting a Time Bomb, with expensive public funding to be answerable to economic justification in tax payer's money.

2. ISA HK/China is not aware of any overseas Arboricultural Institute offering training in conservation as an Arborist theme subject, & general conservation does not appear to be a domain to be tested in the Certified Arborist (CA) exam in ISA but rather Urban Forestry to be the closest relevant. In the bi-monthly ISA Scientific journal of Arboriculture & Urban Forestry, the popular technical discussions over the years appear to be Tree Assessment, Tree Biology, Tree Biomechanics & Plant Health Care. This appears to be the international trend of Arboriculture in its R & D, & public acknowledgement.

3. After the fatal Tree Failure in Stanley last August, the HK Govt has repeatedly announced comfort to the family of the victim by seriously reviewing the current Tree Practice within Govt Depts. Tree Assessment & Hazard Tree Removal appear to be on top of the list with Public Safety to be the no. 1 concern. On the other hand, planting trees too close & too many may not provide the genuine benefits of trees to a community while possibly inducing hazards, like a nation's economic strength should not be judged by its population but by its GDP. To explain this concept concisely, we attach here the previous Station Mail of 'Big Spreading Trees in Hawaii' (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2007/09/isa-hkchina-big-spreading-trees-in.html) for your interesting study & comparison. With this consideration in mind, ISA HK/China would not shed a tear if the HK Urban Tree Population is to be reduced by half for better root development & canopy coverage, rather than having numerous stems all over the place to squeeze our trees tiny & thin like under-nourished children for the so-called 'Instant Effect'.

4. On the photo showing a Tree Worker operating a Chainsaw without the proper PPE & Chainsaw Chaps in your given newspaper cutting, he did not appear to be anyone of the CA or IPA in our territory that ISA HK/China is aware of. In actual fact, besides the Independent Practicing Arborists (IPA, http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/08/isa-hkchina-independent-practicing.html) who are currently busy with Tree Work all over HK, + 95% of our CA are not known by us to be active in operating Chainsaws regularly for any reason in our territory. It would probably be those ' Specialist Contractors' with their ever changeable combination of subcontractor staff running daily chainsaw operation under their own traditional methods to cut trees day in day out everywhere. It would be our advice to place an IPA or equivalent to supervise them for work quality & safety, or Mother Nature makes the Rules for their work.

Thank you again for your incoming mail & your willingness to share it with our Station Members. As you have exposed yourself for reply, please be prepared to receive challenging messages although you have every right to ignore any of them. On the other hand, you may wish to write directly to express your views at the Chief Secretary Office at cso@cso.gov.hk with copy to the Chief Executive Office at ceo@ceo.gov.hk for our current Tree Practice. ISA HK/China has found both Offices are full of friendly people, very inclusive & are willing to listen to public views. Therefore, why not let them know yours?

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

"If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained & inspected properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset."

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

----- Original Message -----
From: Chiu Kam Wai
To: Eurasian Garden Ltd.
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 11:48 AM
Subject: ISA HK/China --- 'xxxxxxxx Daily' comment on Arborist


Dear Sammy,

Attachment is my Chinese letter. I deem that there are some comments from ISA HK/China after your review. Please feel free to contact me at 9x4x 8x2x. I will be available after 17:30 today anytime. Thanks for your attention.

Best regards,
Ryan Chiu

敬啟者:

本人是國際樹木學會香港分會的會員之一。 我看了近日在報章上的多篇質疑 ISA Certified Arborist 的報導後, 心中有些感想希望可以藉今次機會道出來, 與大家分享一下我對近日報導的想法。 希望是次抒發不會引起任何不必要的爭議, 因為這是我個人的感想吧。

我起初深信在香港, 應該沒有專業人士會質疑國際樹木學會認證的樹藝師吧。 因為國際樹木學會是一個差不多有一百年歷史的國際樹木研究組織, 歷史之久, 無庸致疑。 國際樹木學會的樹藝師在國際上均被認定為城市裏的樹木專家及樹木醫生。 而在數年前, 香港開始有國際樹木學會的分會, 開始認證本地的樹藝師, 我心中想是多麼的光榮。 國際上, 有多達47個先進地區及國家均承認由國際樹木學會認證的樹藝師, 而香港能追隨著那47個先進地區及國家的步伐是一件好事。 不過, 香港的結果令人覺得奇怪, 香港裏的專業人士竟然質疑這個由一百年歷史的樹木組織認證的樹藝師, 真令人費解。

近期, 香港的樹木出現很多問題, 很多塌樹意外常常發生。 因此我們的政務司司長唐英年先生便被任命, 目的是整合香港各個與樹木管理的部門。 而我們卻能在報章上常常看到一些與樹藝師有關的報導, 有些報導指香港的樹藝師沒有能力做好香港的樹木管理工作。 這一點我卻有另一個看法。 眾所周知, 香港樹木出現今天的問題, 不是一朝一夕的。 很多原因是因為起初時的設計錯誤, 導致出現今天的危險樹木。 樹木不能被隨便任意選種, 不是在天橋底下種植喜光的樹木, 不是在路旁小小位置種植楓香, 鳳凰木等巨大樹種。 不過在香港, 情況正正如此。 以前的香港並沒有樹藝師的存在。 錯配, 錯種等等的問題一直存在至今。 既然今天我們政府決心解決這個樹木問題, 為何仍然重蹈數十年前至今的錯誤呢? 現在香港有樹藝師了, 政府不是應該給予樹藝師參與政府的樹木管理工作嗎? 如只任用原班人馬, 再重組一個新部門出來, 不任用樹藝師, 樹木問題不是仍然存在嗎? 這不是重蹈覆轍嗎?

另一方面, 香港的樹藝師均常常被認為是經驗不足, 即使擁有國際認可牌照, 仍不足以在香港管理樹木。 但事實上, 香港有很多樹藝師均是從事了數十年的園藝工作。 單在政府部門裏, 我相信確有一些富經驗的工作人員。 雖然他們在近期才考獲樹藝師牌照, 但他們的數十年經歷, 是不能抹掉的。 相反, 在他們擁有樹藝師牌照後, 加上他們數十年的樹木工作經驗, 更能令他們如虎添翼, 做個稱職的樹藝師。 因為他們不是初出矛籚的 “Fresh Arborist Trainee”, 相反他們卻是政府現時需要的富經驗的樹藝師。

最後, 我想抒發一下我對於本地大學學院安排的樹藝課程。 眾所周知, 樹藝其實是一門獨立的知識。 即使考獲樹藝師牌照, 缺乏經驗的 “Fresh Arborist Trainee” 是未成氣候, 均不能擔當好的樹藝師。 而這個概念正正能套用於我對本地大學學院安排的樹藝課程的意見。 無疑地, 香港的大學教授是受人專敬的。 他們擁有博士學位加上多年的教學經驗, 是香港最尖端的知識分子。 但是, 他們過往是從事教育行業, 還是樹藝行業? 即使各教授們均認識基本的樹藝知識, 但實際的工作經驗不是缺乏嗎? 如果由各大學教授們提供課程給香港的樹藝工作者, 無錯, 學生們是得到了基本知識, 但卻得不到應得的經驗分享。 為何不由富經驗的獨立執業樹藝師, 如國際樹木學會香港分會會長歐永森先生, 等樹藝師教授他們的專業知識呢? 學生們既能得到樹藝知識, 又能從各獨立執業樹藝師上得到豐富經驗分享。 不是更好嗎? 我相信這是香港現時需要做的地方。

我是一個香港市民, 我都抱有香港市民的希望。 希望我們的政務司司長唐英年先生能夠成功改革香港樹木管理的部門, 切切實實地令香港的樹木健康成長。 本人只是希望表達自己的感想, 不是希望引起任何惡性紛爭。 謝。

Ryan Chiu