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

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Recent Media Interviews)

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 two sets of recent media interview on ISA HK/China & the contents are self-explanatory, although please do not read it word by word as the only suggestions coming out from the Station Manager who does not prefer to give blunt comment on any policy or practice as a professional attitude. The media may prefer to give simple & shocking report to focus on popular subjects, but a genuine professional would not be tricked into giving just that.

Both interviews have provided the value & importance of the Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) credential which is seen to confirm the Arborist Profession in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China to a professional level expected by the public. The IPA is meant for Arborists who would like to go into self-practice, since by doing that, the IPA would be armed to face any challenge in the client's requirement be it Tree Assessment, Pruning Supervision, Research & Education or Expert Witness in Court which are the common daily chores of an IPA in our territory. By being an IPA, the Arborist must be able to perform Tree Climbing & it is the Tree Climbing part that most of the Certified Arborists in our territory appear to dislike, some even detest. However, if an IPA can not climb, can he truly be qualified to go into self-practice like if a medical doctor who would detest surgical operation or needle injection?

Therefore, do read these media reports with care. The Station Manager has also given an interview in a TV station recently & shall provide another one for a local magazine very soon. It is no doubt that the Arborist Profession is rising in our territory as a social requirement & not a hobby past time, & ISA HK/China would like to see it growing healthily & not a short burst of glory.

For that we shall need the help & understanding of all.

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 --- HK Tree News (Tree Assessment Office)

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,

From the attached media report & the internet news below, it appears that the HK Govt are now seriously considering to set up a Tree Assessment Office (TAO) of some kind to monitor & control Hazard Trees. ISA HK/China regards this as a good move in view of the current financial situation in HK as well as respecting the impact that a general Tree Office may produce among the +10 Govt Depts handling trees at present. We also admire the skills of our Administrative Officers in their policy formulation to be inclusive & thorough, not to be sentimental or biased but sensible & determined, to answer public demand & to satisfy internal need.

On the other hand, the proposed TAO may also serve as a beginning for a general Tree Office later to monitor & control all Tree Affairs in HK from design, installation, maintenance, risk assessment to protection & preservation. Urban Trees can become Time Bombs if not careful & it will be 'Mother Nature makes the Rules' for any Tree Planting. The correct professionals, like Arborists, must be placed in charge of any Tree Affairs, like planting the ' Right Trees in the Right Places.' The abilities of the Arborists are highly regarded by the Govt Seniors to be a scientific discipline, & various Govt Depts are training their own Arborists to supervise their trees.

For a slightly further vision, there may be 3 major areas requiring imminent attention as seen required:

1. LAO Practice Note 7/2007 --- The Tree Design & Tree Assessment sections may require the signature of Arborists to ensure the Right Trees in the Right Places in any design, & unwanted trees are not to be retained or transplanted further to squander public funds. Trees should not be planted too close by too many, & quality trees should be selected for Structure & Health, rather than just 'flowering & scent' alone. Small Tree Pits must not house large trees, & ongoing maintenance must be carefully considered not just for an 'Instant Effect'. Incorrect Tree Planting will lead to expensive maintenance, & the usual outcome of keeping poor quality trees is an eventual removal amidst a built up urban location which can be difficult to operate & extremely costly.

2. ETWB Technical Circular 3/2006 --- Trees must be re-defined in accordance with international practice not to include bananas, bamboos & certain palms. The Compensatory Planting must consider whether the finished area can truly house the replaced trees or not, & Time Bombs must not be created by squeezing in unnecessary numbers just for making up the balanced sheet. Tree Survey should be carried out & signed by Arborists for their professional responsibilities. Tree Pruning should be carried out & supervised on site by qualified Arborists (IPA http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/08/isa-hkchina-independent-practicing.html, or similar) who have Tree Climbing & Chainsaw expertise.

3. Old & Valuable Trees --- The general concept of selection & maintenance for the 500 no. or so OVT's should be revised to keep out hazardous & costly maintained trees. 'Old, big & thick' do not necessarily mean 'good' for keeping a mature tree. Those without hope & potentially hazardous should be taken off the list & newly found worthwhile should be added in for scientific & sentimental reasons. Arborists must be included in the Expert Group for decision to make sure the right trees are selected & kept in a scientific manner.

It appears that if internal secondment has become necessary in setting up the proposed TAO, LCSD Staff would be likely to provide the largest number with their traditional expertise & qualification. ISA HK/China knows a number of good staff in LCSD to be able to take up this job, & we have faith in the HK Govt to make the correct decision.

May the new TAO, if ever inaugurated, truly serve the people of HK to manage our trees in an admirable manner. ISA HK/China will carry on support the HK Govt to make the right decision & throw our support behind the TAO concept whenever desired.

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."


港府擬設專責單位保育樹木

2009年5月23日 星期六 06:30
(綜合報道)

政務司司長唐英年昨日出席立法會特別內務會議，交代「樹木管理檢討」的文件。他指未來需要成立獨立單位處理樹木保育工作，以解決現時樹木管理涉及不同部門、出現互相推莊的情況。會上有議員昨日追問唐英年對六四事件的立場，以及金管局總裁的聘任問題，但唐英年未有直接回應。

　　唐英年昨日出席會議時，指未來需要成立一個獨立的專責單位負責保育樹木的工作，解決現時樹木管理涉及不同部門、出現互相推莊的情況：「希望通過這次檢討，釐清部門之間的分工，強化整個政府的一體性，每當有個案需要處理時，盡早確定負責的部門，減少部門之間的轉介……不要令市民遊走於部門之間。」

　　唐英年又指正研究是否設立一個專業權威的單位，以強化樹木管理及風險評估的專業能力，在遇上較複雜的個案時，則可邀請本地和海外的專家提供意見。

　　現時本港樹木數目眾多，當局會首先保育及護養古樹名木，以及人流車流較集中地方的樹木。唐英年指明白市民愛惜樹木的心，承諾只要樹木尚有一綫生機，都會投放大量資源盡力補救，但亦須顧及其中的社會成本，如要保住一棵樹需用數十萬元搭一個鋼架作支撐；或者某一個發展項目，要用過百萬元去移植一棵大樹，但樹木移植後未必有很高的存活機會，這些都是保育過程中需要面對的實際問題。

　　工聯會潘珮璆關注現時前綫保樹職員的資歷，希望當局開設培訓班專責培育人才。發展局局長林鄭月娥指出，不少前綫的同事均有「樹藝師」的資格，但這並非一個入職的要求，是次檢討計畫中亦考慮如何鼓勵更多同事有「樹藝師」的資格。

　　樹木保育問題之外，民主黨甘乃威追問唐英年對六四事件的立場，公民黨湯家驊則問及遴選金管局總裁職位的三人小組工作，但唐英年都不作評論。

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Chief Secretary Mr. Henry Tang meets Tree Experts)

Dear Station Members,

If anyone would carefully look into the attached photo (http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200905/20/P200905200291.htm) of the good message released by the HK Govt Information Services below, you may find the Station Manager there expressing his views to His Right Honourable Chief Secretary Mr. Henry Tang at the now announced meeting.

ISA HK/China is beginning to get a faint voice in promoting Modern Arboriculture to Senior Level in the HK Govt & we shall relentlessly develop ourselves to let HK to have better & safer trees as we all deserve.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

政務司司長會見樹木專家（附圖）
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

　　政務司司長唐英年今日（五月二十日）在政府總部會見11位學術界、保育界、相關專業學會和機構的樹木專家，聽取他們對政府改善樹木管理工作的意見和建議。

　　唐英年在會後表示，政府負責檢討樹木管理的專責小組正全面審視樹木管理制度，重點考慮規管框架、機構設置、人員培訓、資源配置等方面。

　　唐英年感謝專家們積極建言，他說：「今天的與會者都是在樹木管理方面有豐富知識和經驗的學者、專家。他們針對如何進一步完善樹木管理制度，特別是在香港特殊環境下如何妥善處理綠化、樹木保育和公眾安全之間的關係，提出了很多富有建設性和啟發性的意見，對於我們客觀科學地進行這項檢討工作有很大的幫助。我衷心感謝他們寶貴的意見。」

　　未來兩天，唐英年還將聽取立法會和18個區議會對樹木管理的意見。

完

２００９年５月２０日（星期三）
香港時間１９時００分

ISA HK/China --- Incoming Mail (Who should lead the proposed Arbor Office?)

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 & your kind appreciation to recommend the Station Manager for a position in the proposed Arboricultural Office. He has received similar support many a time in the past but it is his intention to stay in his family business of Eurasian Garden & to carry on working as the Station Manger of ISA HK/China independently for what he can contribute best to the Tree Care development. Anyway, he wishes to thank all of you for your kind words.

On the other hand, ISA HK/China has made our own proposal as for the structure of the proposed Arboricultural Office (ArbO) in July 2007 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2007/07/isa-hkchina-imaginary-arboricultural.html) . We have conceived a Principal Arboricultural Officer (PAO) to lead this Office & the PAO must be well versed in the Arbor Trade as well as politically capable & publicly respected to lead this Office. It may a difficult job to seek such a person in HK at present & overseas recruitment may eventually become necessary.

In our consideration, the PAO must be knowledgeable in the Arbor Business & must have been working in the industry for a number of years. In our current Govt structure, such a person may be most appropriate to look for within LCSD which has traditionally been the butler for Urban Trees in HK. ISA HK/China has also seen LCSD upgrading their training & services for Tree Care vigorously in the past few years & they are gradually building internatinal connection to share & receive knowledge & skills in the latest practices. With a bit of time & effort, LCSD may eventually catch up with the western world, although their current role focuses mainly in the aftercare of trees.

ISA HK/China would see it as inappropriate to find an 'Office Arborist' to take up the post of PAO, because Arboriculture is a Practitioner Trade biased on operations & not design. Someone only able to study photos & reports all day would not be respected by our Station Members, Tree Experts, Tree Lovers, Media & Politicians to talk professionally on trees. Our public would like to see the PAO able to climb a 10m tree, roar a 20 inch Chainsaw & rig down a 1 foot log to the ground safely, be it just for show in front of cameras or as a convincement to the public that our PAO is truly professional to the job. Such PAO would have fewer antagonism among the public.

On the other hand, a PAO not respected & supported by ISA HK/China may be seen as a loose kite not attaching to the largest & most popular Arbor Group in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. This PAO may find he/she will have few friends in the industry, & his/her command will be difficult to steer. ISA HK/China is politically neutral, but we do have influence in Tree Affairs in our territory under the guidance of Fact-finding & Truth-telling.

Therefore, all of us would like to see the HK Govt to pick the right person to become the PAO. Let's hope public funds would not be squandered to invite public criticism & the future ArbO can truly win the heart & mind of our public.

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: Thursday, May 14, 2009 11:07 PM
Subject: Support the Proposed Arbor Office


Dear Station Manager,

I want to recommend you to chair the proposed Arbor office. Agree? If not, who should I propose?

I think the idea of Arbor Office is very good. We need it indeed. See what kind of a mess our trees are turning into after so many years of greenery. Sad, isn't it?

Can you reply, please?

Cheers

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 --- Incoming Mail (Tree Failure Experience of a Station Member)

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,

A Station Member sent in the message below after apparently escaping destiny in a very close shave. He may win the next Mark Six for his luck if it persists.

As the tree failed in a calm evening without much prior warning, it will become a concern for those of us living nearby trees. If our trees are turning into Time Bombs here & there, should trees not be put back into the hand of the Arborists for safety sake?

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: Eurasian Garden Ltd.
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 12:12 AM
Subject: Re: ISA HK/China (Professoinals) --- Support the proposed Arboricultural Office at CSO & CEO


(I would be gladded if you could broadcast this e-mail
to the Station Members)

Dear Sammy,

I absolutely agree that there's a real need of an Abor
Office in Hong Kong especially after recording a tree
fallen at the entrance of village I lived this night.

After a whole day of tree climbing, I came back home
at appro. 930pm and got blocked by an 8m tall tree at
the entrance of the village. Two villages winching
around the trees told me that the tree was fallen JUST
a few minutes before I came. There was no stronge wind
or any recent works around the tree he told me. But
there are signs he said...The tree hit no body but a
small 4WD vehicle. The car owner was astonished when
she saw "the acts of God".

In fact, after looking in details of the fallen tree,
I found the tree was with abnormally few leaves
(approx. 30% of its normal foliage coverage and size),
one of the stems have peel barks and more importantly,
the trunk base was approx. 80% or more hollow!!! Since
the tree is on a small slope in the village built by
government, I suspect it is not privately owned. I
wonder how important the villagers' live was rated
when the one was maintaining that fallen tree.

Although this incident cause property damage, it is
still lucky no body injured. I could not image if I
came home a few minutes earlier. Thanks God for the
traffic lights. It could be just 3 minutes and a
difference between live and death. But it's a huge
difference between risky and stable trees. As a
participant in the landscape industry, I'm not willing
to tell but I try not to walk under trees after works
as I know what could happen by those trees.

The Hong Kong landscapes should be changed.

xxx

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/

ISA HK/China --- Support the proposed Arboricultural Office at CSO and CEO

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,

Those of you living in HK would be aware of the proposed Arboricultural Office in the HK Govt after the Jury Recommendations of the tragic Stanley Tree Failure in April. In fact, the HK Govt are working hard on this issue to study the feasibility & need to set up such an Office & the project is supervised by the second highest rank in the Govt, namely the Chief Secretary of Administration to coordinate various Bureaus & Depts for the organization. The outcome of the study would be announced this coming July publicly in HK.

As good citizens of HK & keen Tree Lovers in our Station, ISA HK/China would urge all of you to support the setting up of the proposed Arboricultural Office, & to express your opinions with the following consideration:

1. The value of having this Office to supervise our trees from design, selection, installation, maintenance, regular inspection, risk assessment to protection, & the need to reform our current Tree Management.

2. What professionals should be leading this Office & what justifications? Any overseas examples?

3. What are to be expected of this new Office in a practical manner & in the long term?

4. Any idea on the structure, duties & functions of this Office?

5. How this Office can help with the Greenery Development of HK?

6. Any other comments on our current Greenery Policies & outcome upon spending?

You may wish to express your views to the Chief Secretary Office at cso@cso.gov.hk with copy to the Chief Executive Office at ceo@ceo.gov.hk in Chinese or in English. ISA HK/China has been providing our views (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2007/07/isa-hkchina-imaginary-arboricultural.html) to these two good Offices & has found them very inclusive & tolerant with fresh ideas. In fact, we are getting the feeling that these good Offices would like to hear openly from the public for their policy formulation so that anything eventually coming out would be supported by the public at large. Both CSO & CEO are friendly administrators & we encourage our +820 Station Members & +150 TCHK Members from all walks of life to write to them to express your constructive views.

We would also like to invite our overseas counterparts to express their expert opinions about setting up such an Arboricultural Office with their valuable experience to help HK to build one of our own. HK Govt is open & inclusive. Your views will be welcomed by all of us.

Thank you all for helping HK to advance our Tree Care & to have better trees. If HK can become the first oriental city to have an Arboricultural Office in the Far East, HK may provide an impact for the other cities in the region to help protect our trees better, especially for the Motherland of China.

We trust that anyone providing helpful opinions will be blessed by our trees for generations to come.

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 --- Appointment of Deputy Station Manager (Ray Ching)

Dear Station Members,

It is the pleasure of ISA HK/China to inform you that Mr. Ray Ching has just been appointed as Deputy Station Manager in our Station, to help us cope with our rapid expansion in our territory.

Ray has been a keen participant in ISA HK/China in the past few years & has been observed for Integrity, Professionalism, Participation, Fact-finding & Truth-telling in his attitude. He is so satisfied by the Station Manger & Deputy Station Managers to take up this post as to help us expand further in our continuous drive to promote proper Arboriculture & the benefits of trees in our territory.

ISA HK/China has by now a Station Membership of +800 no. & we have newcomers joining every week. Our Station Members come from all walks of life in equality & freedom of expression without prejudice or distinction. Every Station Member is just as equal despite background of social position, profession & education. Enquiries are replied without distinction & every Station Member is treated with respect.

For your information, Ray is an Engineer by original discipline like the Station Manager, & Engineers make some of the finest Arborists in the world, e.g. Prof. Claus Mattheck, Prof. Ken James & Prof. Brian Kane. Ray is a Certified Arborist & an active Tree Climber. He is ready to take his CTW exam anytime now to approach to the rank of Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA, http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/08/isa-hkchina-independent-practicing.html) & to become an ISA Proctor very soon. Ray has attended landscape design training at HKU SPACE & has been in the landscaping business since 1999. His mobile no. is +852-6098 3209 & his e-mail address is rayching@hotmail.com . Ray is a friendly person & anyone is welcomed to contact him for anything about ISA HK/China.

Ray will be helping the Station Manager in the training & administration section initially, & will be branching out to other area of assistance later on.

Looking forward to our Station Members' support to Ray for his work.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager

ISA HK/China --- Tree Assessment

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 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.

What you have enquired may be of a nature of interest to a lot of our Station Members in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China, since the subject of Tree Assessment has become popular after the result of the Coroner's Inquiry of the fatal Stanley Tree Failure was announced. We therefore wish to reply with our best knowledge in an open Station Mail for public broadcast while protecting your identity. We hope we can have your understanding on this.

Before you would like to enter into the complicated subject of Tree Assessment, we would like to advise you to first study into the following literature for necessary knowledge:

1. Tree Biology (You first have to understand how a tree functions before anything else, & Tree Biology is NOT Plant Biology)

a. A New Tree Biology --- Alex Shigo
b. Modern Arboriculture --- Alex Shigo
c. Tree Anatomy --- Alex Shigo
d. A New Tree Biology Dictionary --- Alex Shigo


2. Tree Bio-Mechanics (The biggest enemy of a tree is wind. You must understand how a tree or its part may fail in wind)

a. The Face of Failure --- Claus Mattheck
b. Stupsi Explains The Tree --- Claus Mattheck
c. Updated Field Guide for Visual Tree Assessment --- Claus Mattheck
d. Tree Structure & Mechanics Conference Proceedings (How Trees Stand Up & Fall Down) --- Smiley & Coder
e. A Photographic Guide to the Evaluation of Hazard Trees in Urban Areas --- Matheny & Clark
f. Evaluating Tree Defects 2nd edition --- Ed Hayes


3. Roots & Soil (It is the roots & soil friction that keep a tree standing up. However, root invasion can damage infra-structure like sidewalk heaving, blocked pipes & cracked drains)

a. The Landscape Below Ground --- Watson & Neely
b. The Landscape Below Ground II --- Watson & Neely
c. Reducing Infrastructure Damage by Tree Roots --- Costello & Jones
d. Urban Soils (Applications & Practices) --- Phillip Craul


4. Diagnosis & Plant Health Care (If you do not understand whether a de-foliation situation is caused by pests, pollution or drainage, how can you write your report?)

a. Abiotic Disorders of Landscape Plants (A Diagnostic Guide) --- Costello, Perry, Matheny, Henry & Geisel
b. Plant Health Care for Woody Ornamentals --- John Lloyd
c. Arboriculture --- Harris, Clark & Matheny

5. Legal Consultation (What is the legal consequence of your Arborist Report? Are you inviting Law Suit?)

a. Tree Law Cases --- Lew Bloch
b. Arboriculture & The Law --- Merullo & Valentine
c. Arboriculture & The Law in Canada --- Dunster & Murray
d. Guide for Plant Appraisal --- Council of Tree & Landscape Appraisers of North America
e. Trees & Development --- Matheny & Clark

Since Tree Climbing is usually required for Canopy Inspection for tree architecture & defects, with pruning & removal as a recommendation frequently appearing in Tree Assessment in our territory, the following literature would become useful to you:

6. Tree Climbing

a. Tree Climbers' Guide 3rd Edition --- Sharon Lilly
b. The Tree Climber's Companion 2nd Edition --- Jeff Jepson
c. Arborist Equipment 2nd Edition --- Donald Blair

7. For Tree Work

a. Tree Pruning --- Alex Shigo
b. An Illustrated Guide to Pruning 2nd Edition --- Ed Gilman
c. The Art & Science of Practical Rigging --- Donzelli & Lilly of ArborMaster
d. ANSI A300 (Part 1)-2001 Pruning Standard Practices (Pruning) for Tree Care Operations --- American National Standards Institute
e. ANSI Z133.1 - 2006 Safety Requirements for Arboricultural Operations --- American National Standards Institute

The Arborist Profession is advancing daily with research & discovery from all around the world. It is much recommended for you to join ISA Membership to receive the following update for your continuous education:

8. Update & Education

a. Arborist News --- ISA
b. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry Scientific Journal --- ISA
c. Annual International ISA Conference --- held in a different place on earth every year with international Arborists gathering to share latest knowledge, research & equipment

All above information can be obtained at ISA online in www.isa-arbor.com. It is our recommendation for you to study through them all before joining an apprenticeship under an experienced Tree Assessor like our Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA, http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/08/isa-hkchina-independent-practicing.html) or similar, to learn on how to assess trees on site. We shall be happy to give you a list of qualified personnel for your onward pursue.

Assessment for a tree is like medical examination for a human. No doctor would like to diagnose & operate incorrectly for a patient. At the same time, Tree Doctors should not remove the wrong tree by incompetence. As a Tree Assessor, you must remember that anything written down by you will be held to a higher degree of 'Duty of Care' in Common Laws, since your given details can be verified by another Arborist in a Court Room situation. Measurements, observations & recommendations can all be testified on site & this is the scientific side of our discipline. You therefore will be held responsible for any wrong-doing if Negligent.

We hope by now we have not frightened you to enter into the sensitive world of Tree Assessment. In reality, thousands of Arborists around the world are doing Tree Assessment everyday. The Station Manager himself has assessed hundreds of trees in the past 12 months already. A lot of Arborists sustain their income by Tree Assessment & Tree Assessment is the Crown Jewel in our Profession. It's just that you have to be careful & prudent all the way with adequate knowledge & experience on hand to do it. Never do it just for quick bucks if not sure, & you will get some good night sleep by remembering that.

Thank you for your enquiry again & please do not hesitate to call anytime if you have further questions.

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, April 27, 2009 11:39 PM
Subject: How to do Tree assessment

Dear Station Manager,

I am your CA no. HK-xxxxA. I want to learn Tree Assessment because my boss demands it now. But I did not know where to start. Please explain with my thanks.

Always support you. You are doing good job.

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 --- HK Tree News (Tree Failure at Robinson Road and Results of Recent Greening)

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 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 internet news below described how the Tree Failure at Robinson Road, on the night where the Chief Secretary His Honourable Mr. Henry Tang just visited trees all over HK during the day, would appear as a warning shot from our urban trees on their unpredictability to fail & injure. Luckily this time the motor-cyclist of mis-fortune was only slightly hurt by the falling tree. It may be something of a bigger event next time.

If an Arboricultural Office (ArbO) can be set up by the HK Govt to coordinate all Tree Affairs in HK, it would be seen as a major advancement in Tree Care for HK & even in the Far East. ISA HK/China has proposed such an idea back in July 2007 (see attached). However, the need for it then was not as pushing as for it now.

It would be good if this proposed ArbO can review & coordinate all Tree Planting in HK from design, installation, maintenance, regular inspection, risk management, protection & conservation to public education, for trees new & old in Govt & Private Land. Future Landscape Plans & Greenery Master Plans with regard to trees may require endorsement from this Office to ensure good quality trees are installed in the right places, since the usual option for installing poor trees would be an eventual removal & expensive maintenance before that. The contractors & maintenance should not be the only parties to blame always, & the system should be renovated to meet realities.

The ArbO is likely to be a mini-Govt on its own to govern not humans, but a population of trees. While there may be several hundred human races on earth, there are a known +100,000 species of trees so recorded, with perhaps millions not yet discovered or identified in our planet. The ArbO can be seen to be no easy task to carry out all its duties, & it will be our blessings to its staff in its first few years in operation.

If ArbO could not meet the expectation of public in time to come, complaints such as the other piece of news attached (HK Tree News --- Results of recent Greening) may arrive. This piece of news moaned about public funds (+HK$630 millions?) being spent without desirable outcome at the end. +HK$630 millions should be regarded as a lot of money on Greening & it would be an enviable sum by many western local councils to have it in the budget call. It is real sad that the media would file a rejection as described, & luckily the Arborists did not appear to be involved in this occasion.

HK appears to be thinking of catching up in Tree Planting with western nations in terms of safety & amenities. However, can the traditional thinking of 'Flowering & Scent' be replaced with Structure & Health?

May HK shine herself like the Pearl of the Orient even for her trees to let our brothers & sisters up north to come & compare with western nations & Singapore someday.

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."


唐英年巡樹 半山折樹傷人

4月21日 星期二

【專訊】政務司長唐英年昨日與官員在港島多處地方巡視樹木，並表示由他領導的管理樹木專責小組期望風季前找出有問題的樹木，加以護理。但昨晚半山有大樹的10呎長樹丫疑因枯萎折斷墜下馬路，擊傷電單車司機。

10呎長樹丫 疑枯萎墜下馬路

昨晚約9時，港島半山羅便臣道76號英華女學校對開護土牆上一棵20呎的大樹，其中一截約10呎長、半呎直徑的樹丫疑因枯萎折斷墜下馬路斷開數段。一名40歲姓黃薄餅店外賣職員駕駛電單車經過收掣不及「人仰馬翻」倒地受傷，幸傷勢並不嚴重，由救護車送院，經治理後無礙。

本月初特首高調回應赤柱刺桐塌下壓死港大女生的死因研訊結果，委派唐英年成立專責小組跟進。唐英年昨日率領多名政府官員，分別巡視中環七號碼頭、大潭郊野公園、大坑摩頓臺、石牆樹及維多利亞公園，了解本港不同地域樹木的管理及保養工作。

盼風季前找出危樹

唐英年表示，目前政府已有完善及有效的制度定期檢查樹木，即先以目視留意樹木的健康，懷疑有問題的樹木再以儀器探測，「我們會爭取在風季前能夠知道和處理那些有潛在危險的樹木」。

唐又認為，暫時毋須修例，要求所有業主確保樹木安全，因為最近幾十年的地契內已要求業主須確保住宅範圍內的樹木不會構成危險。

為跟進死因庭陪審團的建議，唐英年稱，小組未來3個月會研究是否成立樹木專責辦公室來協調樹木管理工作和重點處理一些特別複雜的個案；應否設立樹木專家小組，邀請本地及海外專家，提供樹木風險評估及管理的權威意見；前線員工的人手及培訓，以及部門之間的協調機制問題。

康文署樹隊人員向政務司長唐英年（右）示範游繩檢視古樹頂部的工作。

ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Politician's Support on Arborist Profession and Lung Hang Hazard Tree)

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 pieces of recent Tree News in HK:

1. Political Support on Arborist Development

A prominent politician in the Legislative Council has expressed out that both Singapore & Taiwan are already having Tree Laws to preserve & protect their trees. In her opinion, HK should follow suit. She has also given appreciation on the efforts of HK Arborists to develop this needed profession & would like to see the HKSAR Govt supporting it with positive action.

What's said by this prominent politician is cordially welcomed by ISA HK/China to accept the Arborist Profession as a social requirement rather than an amateur hobby group. Arborists are trained to look after trees from design, selection, installation, maintenance, regular inspection, risk assessment to protection, under the guidelines of international research & experience. No other landscape organization around the world at present is bigger or more historical than ISA to provide research, experience & education on trees. ISA Arborists are recognized experts in trees around the world & ISA has produced more Arborists than any other landscape organization so far.

Arboriculture is a scientific discipline. Arborists talk on research, experience & facts. We believe 'Mother Nature makes the Rules, not us' on trees. May the public understand us better not as a bunch of Tree Lovers, & would appreciate us to care for our trees professionally in our territory.

2. Lung Hang Hazard Tree

The following news was sent in for public notice by Tree Climbers Fung Kai (TCFK, http://hktcs.blogspot.com) where the Station Manager had taught the first group of Tree Climbers back in 2006 & 2007. Their teacher Mr. Thomas Chow has since then taken over & has carried on the ISA tradition of encouraging youngsters to learn tree climbing:

隆亨邨事件

四月四日早上九時，爬手與四位鳳溪攀樹隊隊員應浸會大學兩位傳理系二年級同學的邀請，到大圍隆亨邨評估一棵高約十多尺的山指甲，以確定它對行人將會造成潛在的危險。該樹種在一個以三合土築成的花槽內。花槽上空不見天日，實為一休憩間的三合土做成的頂。為了爭取陽光，該樹惟有向外發展，彎曲樹幹追向太陽。不知為甚麼原因，該樹的樹幹木質部份由地面計起，腐爛超過兩米。中心所有的木質部份差不多已經沒有了，只剩下一層樹皮輸送水分和養份到枝部和葉部。經過細心的檢查，還發現木質部份有一些蟲糞、真菌和螞蟻呢。

附近居民三年多前已向該邨的房委會辦事處投訴此事，但沒有結果。居民恐防該樹會倒下，故此利用一塊頗大的三會土磚支撐該樹的樹幹，並且為防有行人碰到該彎由樹幹，所以在附近商場取來一塊黃色的牌和一個紅色的膠袋掛在樹幹上，提醒來往的路人。當日所見，路上行人頗多，經過此樹時，每人也要避開樹幹，取彎路而行。

拍照不久，該邨有兩位工作人員查詢我們是否記者，並且著我們事前必須向該邨辦事處申請。兩位浸大同學說，這是他們功課的一部份。該兩位工作人員惟有在附近注視。其中一住在該處附近休憩的老伯，看見我們檢查該樹並且拍照，竟然很大聲的說要保留該樹，若有關機構把它移除，則先鋸去他的大腿云云。此事可見一般人對樹木缺乏認識，而政府在這方面的宣傳和教育還是不足，市民也不太注重樹木倒下時可能會造成人命和財物的損失。赤柱的倒樹事件正是一個慘痛的教訓呢！亡羊補牢，未為晚也。希望有關當局能珍惜人命，造福社祇，拿一份決心改善以前不足之處。

The incident has since then drawn the attention of relevant authority & this tree was said to undergo inspection for hazards accordingly.

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 --- 2009 ISA Research on 'Tools and Techniques for Detecting Decay'

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 a recent research published by ISA in Feb 2009 giving an insight on the knowledge of Tools & Techniques for Detecting Decay.

In recent seminars & tender requirement in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China, there appeared to be a lob-sided reliance on the use of Resistance Drilling & Sonic Equipment for detecting Decay, & the results were waved around to be the only viable conclusion to determine a Tree Failure. As seen in the attached article, Resistance Drilling is invasive & will break the Natural Protection Zones of a tree & Mature Trees are not known to compartmentalize well after injury. The photos of the Tomograph results were also clear to show an approximate situation of a decay & the result would need expert analysis to draw any conclusion. All these would mean that machines can not replace the experience, observation & knowledge of a well trained Tree Assessor.

In HK where an 'Independent Tree Specialist' is preferred to be someone with horticultural background, ISA HK/China does not agree with that at all. A Tree is an engineered structure & its biggest enemy is wind. It is wind that can kill a tree in seconds by toppling it. A Tree is also a porous structure (with vessels in it) & it constantly changes shape in wind in order to dissipate breaking stresses on its parts. Without basic knowledge in Wind Mechanics, it would be difficult to predict Wind Failure & to prescribe Treatment such as Pruning & Cabling, & Pruning is not just cutting from Branch Bark Ridge to Branch Collar only but why, where, how much & with what to cut. A proper Tree Assessment would be the first step before prescribing Pruning.

In prescribing Tree Work, the Practicing Arborist should be familiar with the practical side of Arboriculture such as Tree Climbing & Chainsaw Uses. Without such knowledge & skills, this 'Independent Tree Specialist' would be just another expert gardener, & would need to rely on paper work (photos & reports?) to supervise site work. This method does not appear to work out well internationally.

It is the opinion of ISA HK/China that The Arborist Profession in our territory should not rely too heavily on credential only, but more on skills & experience. ISA HK/China would like to see an Apprentice System among our fresh Certified Arborists (CA) to follow Senior Arborists like the Independent Practicing Arborist (IPA) (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/09/isa-hkchina-reply-on-tree-transplanting.html) or someone similar, to learn & advance their skills & knowledge before going into self-practice. The HK Legal & Medical System would require juniors to follow seniors for apprenticeship for a number of years & they have a Practicing Certificate to ensure quality. Then why not in the Arborist System were Arborists are Tree Doctors & Tree Detectives? However in doing that, the Senior Arborist must have enough work to sustain himself & apparently at present, it is not the case.

For any of our CA wanting to perform Tree Risk Assessment, it would be the advice of ISA HK/China for them to first go & master Tree Biology & Tree Bio-mechanics before attempting to enter this sophisticated area of practice. Both Dr. Alex Shigo & Prof. Claus Mattheck offer great publication in this area to provide important information. The literature can be purchased on ISA website of www.isa-arbor.com . They are difficult to read & understand, & the later part is full of engineering & mathematics. However, there appears to be little alternative if an CA wishes to enter into this area of practice.

It is important to remember that any Tree Inspection & Risk Assessment may bear legal consequences since Arborists are held to a higher degree of 'Duty of Care' in law to provide technical advice. Negligence or foul play can easily be detected by another Arborist & Arboriculture is a discipline based on science & research. There are many Court cases challenging Tree Inspection & Risk Assessment in western countries, & it will not take long for our territory to begin to have precedents. Therefore, our CA's should take great care in their work in order to stay dry & clean.

Trees would become liabilities if not designed, planted & maintained well. Poor quality trees & trees planted in the wrong places are difficult to maintain with the only option to be replaced with new one later. If trees in our territory now are to be compared with those of the western world or even with Singapore in terms of safety & amenity, we may have a long way to go indeed.

May the Arborist Profession in our territory develop well to turn our trees into assets, with HK possible taking the lead in its drive after the tragic Stanley Tree Failure.

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 --- International Definition of a 'Tree'

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 HK, a Tree is defined in a peculiar way.

In accordance with the Govt Guidelines of Environment, Transport & Works Bureau Technical Circular no. 3/2006 & Lands Administration Office Practice Note no. 7/2007, "A plant is considered as a tree is its trunk diameter measures 95 mm or more at a height of 1.3 m above the ground level."

Under such Guidelines, bananas, bamboos, large shrubs & palms meeting the above size requirement would all become ' Trees' in Govt land & projects. With this definition in force, these ' Trees' would need to be 'preserved' under a hierarchy of ' Retention first; if not, try Transplantation; if still not, apply for Removal' . In the case of Removal, there is a requirement of a 'Compensatory Planting' at a 1 : 1 ratio to pay off the debt upon construction completion, with the space to be provided by the applicant to fit them all in, unless under pure justification. Over-crowding & congestion will be the burden of the developer or management at their own risk.

It is not known internationally that bananas, bamboos & palms would be classified as ' Trees' in Biological terms or even by common sense. Different Biologists in different parts of the world seem to define ' Trees' differently. However, it is not to the knowledge of ISA HK/China that as undeveloped as African States would regard bananas & bamboos as ' Trees'. In the primitive research of ISA HK/China, it appeared that the famous Wikipedia online can provide a detailed definition for a Tree in the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree . Many other links have been approached to look for detailed explanation of a ' Tree' but the Wikipedia so far appeared to provide the best answer. Without diving into the complicated taxonomical explanation of many of the research, a Tree appeared to be generally accepted to be a plant with a lot of wood, tall, long-living & with a prominent central leader. Some Trees would live for thousands of years & some are over a hundred meters tall. Woods from Trees are generally good construction material & are suitable for furniture making. Bananas, bamboos & palms are not known to meet all these requirements.

Recently in the UK, a famous legal case between a developer & local authority has led to a 12,000 word legal definition of a ' Tree' ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/4613654/Judge-takes-12000-words-to-define-a-tree.html) in High Court. The Lord Judge making the statement had frankly said that there had not been a statutory definition a ' Tree' in British history, & this explanation would provide a precedent in Britain.

One of the consequences of having Trees defined as in the Guidelines of HK above is that large ' Trees' would need to be 'preserved' in accordance with the hierarchy of Retention, Transplantation before Removal. This has led to grievances from the construction sector & eventually to a well distributed complaint by a Mr. Lo Tung in Sep 2008 as per attached (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2008/09/isa-hkchina-reply-on-tree-transplanting.html), which was copied to all sound members of the HK society. While Lo Tung's complaint caused as little as a ripple in HK, the Stanley Tree Failure of 27.8.2008 that killed, eventually led to a tidal wave for public attention. The media & public were both questioning the wisdom of preserving Trees out of sentiment against safety. HK appeared to re-think again.

It is a know fact that the width of most lorry bed in HK is only 2.5 m wide. In transplanting large trees with a sizeable canopy, the width of most lorries simply could not fit in. Therefore, in order to force this mature tree onto the lorry for transport, the canopy & sometimes the rootball are 'topped' to fit. Then the clients would not accept Topping because it is regarded to be a bad arboricultural practice. Some of such photos are attached in here for public viewing. Now should we blame the contractors for bad work or shall we stake out the parties initiating the ' Transplant' for the decision ??

It appeared that public funding has been squandered for unnecessary ' Tree Transplant' many a times in HK in the past. With now the HK Administration reviewing afresh the Tree Policies with specific attention for public safety in HK, would there be reform & who should be invited in to help make decisions?

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 --- HK Tree News (Arborists are 'Tree Technicians'??

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 a piece of local news sent in by Station Members with regard to the image of the Arborist Profession in HK. ISA HK/China is trying to tone down our response in this Station Mail not to invite international uproar, since Station Mail is read nowadays in the Pacific Rim, Europe & America by the thousands.

The discussion in Blue below was describing the Certified Arborists (CA) not as any 'expert' in Tree Care. CA's were compared to 'Tree Technicians', lacking what an 'expert' would understand as 'professional knowledge'. The CA's were further taken as lacking the abilities of a 'Tree Doctor' to diagnose ailing trees.

This is the first time that ISA HK/China has heard criticism on our CA system anywhere in the world, & sadly this has happened in HK where ISA HK/China is based. It would be even more hurting if this would come out from someone who has an ISA Membership.

May we first look into how a CA is 'produced' in ISA before anyone would make any further comments. In accordance with the Entry Qualification of the CA exam, the candidate has to fulfill the following requirements:

" Examination Eligibility Requirement

The ISA Certification Board requires candidates to have a minimum of three years of full-time experience in arboriculture. Acceptable experience includes the practical use of knowledge involved in pruning, fertilization, installation and establishment, diagnosis and treatment of tree problems, cabling and bracing, climbing, or other services that directly relate to arboriculture. Examples of experience sources include, but are not limited to,

• tree care companies • utility personnel
• nursery personnel • instructors of arboriculture/horticulture
• landscape personnel • horticultural/Extension advisors
• municipalities • consulting arborists
• state forestry personnel • pest control advisors/applicators

The eligibility requirement also may be satisfied with a two-year degree in arboriculture and two years of practical experience or a four-year degree in a related field and one year of practical experience. If you are self-employed or own your own company, you will be required to submit three letters of references with your application. References may be in the form of copies of invoices, contracts and/or business license. Please contact ISA for other possible forms of verification. "

The application procedure has clearly screened out those who are not related to the profession or not trained relevantly for Tree Care. Any falsification in the application will lead to removal of the credential anytime before or after the exam. The Chief Proctor has the authority to carry out such investigation.

The CA exam is in the form of 200 multiple choice, in which 10 Tree Samples are given for identification. The average international passing rate of the CA exam is around 25% at present. It is very low when compared to most Professional Exams in HK for Engineers, Architects, Lawyers & Doctors.

After getting the CA credential, it is only valid for 3 years. The CA has to collect 30 Continuous Education Units (CEU) by self-study within this period for re-certification, or he/she will have to re-take the exam.

On the working side, it is a fact that the CA's in HK are not active in Arborist Services such as Tree Selection, Tree Installation, Tree Inspection, Risk Assessment, Pruning Supervision, Construction Protection, etc. like their overseas counterparts, partly due to our landscaping system not demanding CA for this kind of service in the past. However, those who do work as a Practicing Arborist like the Station Manger (SM), would produce quality services to international requirements. One of such incident is attached for public viewing in here & the SM himself has inspected & assessed hundreds of trees alone in the past 12 months in Govt & private sector in HK.

Arborists around the world are known as Tree Doctors & Tree Detectives. Not quoting work from other CA's in HK without their permission but his own, the SM has stood up as Expert Witness in Court, carried out Pruning Supervision on site, assessed OVT's & delivered various Arboricultural Training locally & overseas. If this does not qualify a CA to be a genuine Tree Professional, then what does?

Those who would call CA's as 'Tree Technicians' may not actually understand the requirements, training & experience of how to become a CA. There are now +22,000 CA in +30 countries around the world & CA is a respected profession in 47 countries. There is a CA exam given every 18 hours anywhere in the world right now. The popularity of the CA credential has spoken for itself & the world would not be as foolish to keep on pursuing something of no value.

In his conferences & travel for ISA commitment, the SM has met prominent CA's like Prof Ed Gilman of University of Florida, Prof Bill fountain of University of Kentucky, Prof Brian Kane of University of Massachusetts, Prof Frank Schwarz of University of Switzerland, Prof Ken James of University of Melbourne, & many others.... All these Professors were very proud of their CA credential every time.

Furthermore, the trees in Singapore are looked after well by their +150 CA's in the National Parks Board (Nparks). We in HK admire the trees in Singapore all the time. It is a known fact that their CA's would look after their trees from design, installation, maintenance, inspection to protection as genuine Tree Professionals.

Would we now not appreciate the abilities & contribution of the CA as Tree Experts to care for our trees? Would great Professors & senior Govt Officials around the world join the rank of CA because it is a 'Technician' quality?

May the HK public understand the CA profession better & let those who would regard CA's as 'Tree Technicians' to come sit for the CA exam just for once, to find out whether such claim can be truly justified.

best regards,

Sammy Au
ISA HK/China Station Manager
ISA Chief Proctor for the HK/China Region of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China

"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."

要使古樹不再殺人 須健全樹木醫護制度

(明報)4月1日 星期三 05:10

【明報專訊】政府高調回應赤柱 刺桐塌下壓死港大女生的死因研訊結果，由行政長官 委派政務司 長唐英年 成立專責小組，檢視管理樹木工作。這次塌樹殺人，顯示康文署 對於樹木安危的評估，已經使人失去信心，關鍵在於康文署並無樹木專家，而該署卻不肯面對這個現實，終致發生塌樹殺人慘劇。專責小組一定要解決這個問題，配合人才培訓，才有可能使樹木成為香港人的朋友，而非殺人兇手。

有足夠知識診斷病樹？ 樹木組表現證明不及格

康文署轄下樹木組約有120人，據該署介紹，這些人員均曾接受專業樹木護理訓練，有90名管理及督導級人員接受過海外樹藝專家在香港舉辦的樹木護理課程，更有40名職員考獲國際樹藝學會註冊樹藝師資格。不過，據樹木專家、港大地理系講座教授詹志勇表示，這些樹藝師負責日常保養樹木的工作，相當於樹藝技工，並無專家所需的專業知識。

如果康文署認為考獲「國際樹藝學會註冊樹藝師資格」，就具備專家身分和要求，則證明這個資格未能滿足香港的現實情况；若這個資格合乎專家的身分和要求，則可能是管理和制度架構使他們未能發揮所長。從過去所發生的事故看來，樹藝師資格未合乎專家身分和要求的可能較大。

日常護理樹木，需要技工，但是同時需要懂得樹木病理的專家，及早發現樹木有什麼毛病，以便治療。以赤柱刺桐塌下的經過為例，說明康文署人員根本未能給刺桐準確斷症。刺桐塌下殺人後，樹木組人員鋸斷樹幹，發現樹身有大洞，內藏無數小昆蟲及螞蟻等，一幅萬蟲蠢動景象，使人毛骨聳然。刺桐被蛀蝕中空，健康之壞早已不言而喻。但是刺桐塌下之前約一個月，才通過樹木組人員所做的聲納檢測，認為樹身狀態屬於可接受，而塌下前不到一星期，也通過樹木組人員的目視檢測。

另外，死因研訊中，以獨立專家身分作供的詹志勇，也曾指出樹木護理人員知識水平不足，即使儀器顯示刺桐腐爛程度大增，但他們單憑目視仍然決定只密切觀察，未能及時抑制姫小蜂侵害，間接導致塌樹。詹志勇認為，從檢測刺桐的數據和所顯露「身體語言」，其實早已反映有倒塌危險。我們認為，上述種種情况，說明樹木組人員根本無足夠專業知識護理樹木。

康文署無夠資格樹木專家，並非始於今日或塌樹之日，過去沒有，現在也沒有。問題是塌古樹危機也非始於今日，2007年九龍公園 一棵細葉榕「樹王」，曾發生大部分樹身塌下，猶幸未造成傷亡，當時輿論和專家已經質疑樹木組人員缺乏專業知識，本港部分古樹的安全度引起關注。不過康文署並未正視缺乏樹木專家的問題，以今次聆訊為例，還花錢特別從加拿大 請來樹木專家，提供對康文署有利的口供。聆訊結果令康文署的企圖未能得逞，但是該署的頑固做法於此可見一斑。

護理人員並無醫生功能 樹藝師無醫樹專業資格

近年本港保育意識高漲，保育除了要與社區發展尋求平衡，還涉及安全，保育古樹就碰到這個問題。九龍公園細葉榕「樹王」因為未傷人，安全問題未引起足夠關注，到赤柱刺桐塌下殺人後，政府才高調回應。事態進展，顯示負責保育古樹的康文署樹木組人員，與其工作所需要專業知識，存在落差。不少古樹就在市民身邊，特別是彌敦道尖沙嘴 段和栢麗大道的古樹，設若它們有病而未為所知，他朝不幸重演赤柱刺桐殺人事故，就為時晚矣！

樹藝師對於護理樹木，具備一定專業知識，這一點不能否定，但是樹藝師的角色與職能，與專家有很大不同。正如醫生與護理人員一樣，護理人員並無斷症的專業資格、知識和能力，護理人員在醫生替病人斷症、處方之後，按照醫生的指示和要求，護理病人，但是如果病人的病情未被診斷出來，護理人員也就無用武之地。護理人員不能取代醫生，醫生若放下身段，可以為病人做護理工作，這就是醫生和護理人員的分別。

證諸過去發生的事故，樹藝師未能診斷出病樹，已是定論，因為他們不具備類如樹木醫生所需要的專家知識和資格。要保育本港的樹木，使樹木不再成為殺手，本港要盡快填補樹木專家這個空間。

詹志勇在死因庭作供時，建議樹木組團隊由科學家帶領，經理級人員入職時亦要擁有相關學位，安排專業訓練，持續進修。陪審團狠批康文署之餘，也建議要加強在職人員培訓，入職條件應提升至專業水平。唐英年表示專責小組的工作重點，要兼顧在推廣綠化工作、保育古樹的同時，一定要確保市民安全和方便。要達至這個目標，首要完善護理樹木的基建工程，而引入樹木醫生，建立一套健全有效的樹木醫護制度，才是使樹木與市民和平共存的長治久安之計。

ISA HK/China --- RTHK Interview on Recent HK Arboricultural

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 or anybody 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 Station Manager (SM) has given an interview at the radio Talk Show of Radio & TV of HK (RTHK) called 'Liberal Wind, Liberal Phone' in Cantonese for about 15 minutes yesterday, to talk about the CA, CTW & IPA credentials & matters concerning the Arboricultural Development in recent HK.

Details of the conversation can be downloaded at http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio1/openline_openview/20090331.html for anyone interested.

Please note the skills of the SM in diverting attacks towards Govt Depts in local Tree Affairs during the rather stressed interview.

Assuring you that ISA HK/China will develop in a manner following the Mission of ISA at all times.

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 --- A study on the Parks and Trees Act (2005) of Singapore

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 or anybody may not be 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 HK for years, Tree Lovers have cried out to demand the legislation of Tree Law to preserve & protect our trees. Some think that with a set of Tree Law in place, our trees will be designed, installed, maintained, inspected & protected properly. Unfortunately over the years, few solid proposals have been put forward as how to draft up such a complicated & important Law. Most appeared to want it out of passion or sentiment, but not knowing the impact of having such a Law in our society.

ISA HK/China has taken a little time to research into a relevant set of such Law in Singapore called the Parks & Trees Act (PTA) of 2005 which may serve as a useful reference for our Tree Lovers. The full contents of the PTA can be downloaded from:

http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_version/cgi-bin/cgi_retrieve.pl?actno=REVED-216&doctitle=PARKS%20AND%20TREES%20ACT%0A&date=latest&method=part

The PTA does not appear to be written in difficult legal language. Anyone with reasonable English should be able to understand it with ease. It is +45 pages long, depending on where you would start reading it.

Please note ISA HK/China has only an amateur ability to understand the PTA & please do not take our message as gospels but with your own interpretation. Flexibility must be allowed & contemplation must be given while understanding the PTA for any consideration.

Highlights of our review of this excellent PTA are given below without commitment for sharing with our Station Members:

1. The PTA has a well defined position & hierarchy in the Singapore Greenery System. A Commissioner of Parks & Recreation is appointed by a Minister (Minister of National Development?, as it is not stated in the PTA) to issue working instructions to the National Parks Board (Nparks) which is the leading agency in executing the PTA. Nparks itself is ordained under the National Parks Board Act of 2005 for its functions & duties.

2. Restricted activities in respect of trees, plants, etc. in national parks & nature reserves in Para 8 & 9 of PTA are similar to that of the HK AFCD regulations.

3. Para 13 of PTA has empowered the Minister to designate a Tree Conservation Area anywhere in Singapore if it is 'in the interests of amenity to make provision for the conservation of trees'. Wouldn't the Tree Lovers of HK be overjoyed to hear this if the same would be applied in HK?

4. Para 14 will restrict any Tree Cutting having girth of more than 1m in any vacant land besides in Tree Conservation Area, without approval. There is currently no regulation in HK to prevent cutting trees belonging to private owners in private land no matter what size they may be.

5. Para 15 gives the Commissioner power to serve a Tree Conservation Notice in any vacant land in Singapore ' to maintain or conserve the tree or group of trees' there. There is currently no equivalence of such practice in HK especially for private tree owners.

6. Para 19 requires the Road Authority to consult Nparks before carrying out any work or activities within a Heritage Road Green Buffer. In a way, certain road work can not proceed without agreement of the Greenery Authority in Singapore.

7. Para 20 stipulates the application procedures to cut trees & plants under the PTA. The application is required to be made to the Commissioner ' in such form or manner as may be prescribed '. This clause allows flexibility in the application procedures rather than listing out rigid forms & orders to be filled in, & the application format can change to cope with practical needs. Under section 4b of Para 20, the Commissioner has the right to grant approval 'as he thinks fit'; & under section 5, revocation may be required ' if he is satisfied ....'. This, in a way, is giving authority to the Commissioner the sole power to decide upon any tree cutting application, rather than to consult the many parties or interest groups like in HK. Naturally it is believed that the Commissioner would not grant such approval without consulting expert opinions from Nparks, & Nparks is known to be full of Arborists to look after their trees in Singapore.

8. Para 21 has listed out the requirements in reinstating damaged plantings in the form of Reinstatement Notices by the Commissioner. Section (c) of this Para has given guidelines for restoration as ' to restore any part of the heritage road green buffer to its former state or, if such restoration is not reasonably practicable or is undesirable....'. This is giving flexibility in restoration, which is similar to the so-called 'Compensatory Planting' in HK, not to be in the strict 1 : 1 ratio; but to the review & decision of the Commissioner under apparent consultation with Nparks, which would alternatively rely on their +150 Arborists for decision in Tree Planting.

9. Para 23 (1) (a) & (b) has given guidelines on how to install planting area in development in Singapore to be ' not more than 2m wide...' or 'not more than 5m wide from the front boundary of the premises adjoining or abutting a public street '.

10. Under section (3) of Para 23, the Minister may ' prescribe different dimensions of planting areas for different classes or descriptions of premises...' , & this notification shall be ' presented to Parliament...' . This just shows how serious Singapore is taking their greenery proposal all the way up to Parliamentary level.

11. Para 24 (1) states that ' No person shall, except with the approval of the Commissioner..... commence or carry out, or permit or authorize the commencement or carrying out of any building work on those premises.' This can be interpreted as no builder's work can commence until the Planting Plan is approved under the PTA.

12. Para 25 concerns the responsibility of maintaining Planting Area. It describes that ' It shall be the duty of the occupier of the premises... to maintain the planting area, .... The Commissioner may, .... require the occupier .... to carry out such work to the planting area o any part of it as he thinks fit...'. This ensures the Planting Area under the description is properly cared for by the premises owner.

13. Para 26 describes how the Planting Areas are not to be interfered or penalties will be imposed.

14. Para 27 provides enforcement for Greenery Protection. It states in section (1) that ' Commissioner may at any time serve on the occupier of any premises... to do all or any of the following within the green margin of those premises...'. The kind of work to be carried out such as planting or re-planting, maintenance, weeding, etc. are given. In section (2), ' No person shall, at any time, cut or damage any tree or plant which has been planted....', unless it ' constitutes an immediate threat to life or property.' This is similar to the HK guidelines that trees posing immediate danger can be removed without prior notice.

15. Para 30 concerns the provision of Green Verges on public street. Under section (3), ' ....or no green verges are made up in respect of those construction work, .... an enforcement notice in writing requiring him to make up such green verges ...'. Then in section(4), the ' Road Authority shall, before commencing or carrying out, or permitting or authorizing... of any construction work... by or under any written law, consult the Commissioner in respect thereof.'. This again appears to confirm that road work in Singapore would require agreement of the Commissioner before commencement if greenery has become an issue

16. Para 31 concerns street works affecting Green Verges. The Commissioner ' may serve a reinstatement notice on any person who appears to the Commissioner to have been responsible for or have participated in anything done in contravention of that subsection requiring the person to remedy (wholly or in part) the contravention.'

17. Para 32 deals with the specification & approval procedures in greenery application. Section (1) (a) has intelligently allowed flexibility in the submission by not stating rigid formats in application procedures, but to provide ' in such form & manner as the Commissioner may require'. This then allows the Commissioner to pick the best & most suitable format in submission to suit practical needs. Singapore has nearly zero corruption & this clause would work for them well. Section (2) allows the Commissioner to require the plans ' to be made or certified by a qualified person' ,& not stating which particular landscape professional (Horticulturist, Arborist, Landscape Designer, etc.) is required. The 'qualified person' in PTA is either the Architect or the Engineer, & the Commissioner would let them pick whichever landscape professional that would be acceptable to the Commissioner for making the planting proposal. In this respect, Arborists are likely to be employed by the 'qualified person' to deal with Tree Design & Selection, Tree Planting & Maintenance, Tree Inspection & Protection; since Nparks reviewing the plan under the Commissioner will be full of Arborists themselves to talk on the same subject.

18. Para 37 concerns trees & plants obstructing traffic. Authority is given to the Commissioner to ' serve an enforcement notice requiring the occupier of the premises to take such measures as the Commissioner thinks fit ' to rectify the situation. Here again, it will be up to the tree owner to employ whatever landscape professional acceptable to the Commissioner to do work complying with the Commissioner's notice. Then as such, Arborists are likely to be appointed to carry out Tree Work such as pruning, removal or transplanting for the rectification, & not by common gardeners.

19. Para 39 deals the power to require information in respect of contravention. The Commissioner has the authority to ' serve an information notice to require any person.....with information relating to that case in the possession or within the knowledge of that person'. Since no exemption clause appears to exist to exclude anybody in this Para, it may indicate to even include Govt Officers in other agencies to be under the scrutiny. This then provides the Commissioner a paramount authority to demand information from anybody if a contravention has appeared anywhere before him within his jurisdiction.

20. Para 40 further provides the Commissioner the authority to ' enter any land ' to investigate any suspected contravention, including demanding the identity of the suspect.

21. Para 41 provides the Commissioner the power to ' arrest, without warrant, any person who has committed....an offence under this Act....' under certain condition. A person arrested under this section ' may be detained ' until his name & address are correctly ascertained.

22. In the other Paras of Part VIII of the PTA, penalties & offences are clearly defined for breach of this Act. It appears that the final judgment will be by the Court Judge & the offenders are likely to appear in Court in the case of a contravention.

23. In Part IX of the PTA, the appealing procedures, exemption, service of documents, etc. are given. It is also interesting to learn that in Para 63, ' The Board (Nparks) may,......, make regulations for carrying out the purposes & provisions of this Act.' This is giving Nparks the convenience to make technical judgment for future variation.

In summary, to the interest of ISA HK/China as an Arboricultural Organization, the relevant advantages of the PTA appeared to rest in the following areas:

a. The PTA has set up a simple structure of having a Commissioner who may be an Administrative Officer, to rely on a single Govt Agency (Nparks) for technical consultation in greenery matters, & not favouring any particular landscape profession in greenery issues (In fact, favouring any particular landscape profession may actually infringe the Law of Equal Opportunities in HK). Nparks in turn possess a range of landscape professionals to do the work. Trees are known to be the responsibilities of the +150 Arborists in Nparks from design, installation, maintenance, inspection to preservation.

b. The PTA does not instruct a rigid framework in their submission procedure or format, but rather in a manner suitable to meet the practical need of the situation at time of application. This allows flexibility & aims straight to the target as deemed required by the circumstances encountered.

c. The duties & responsibilities of each of the parties (Govt & public) concerned are clearly defined, with penalties laid out for Court decision. Everyone knows where he stands in front of the Act.

d. The Commissioner is empowered to overlook all greenery matters in construction & development. He has the authority to demand information from anybody including Govt Depts & is required to be consulted before certain construction is due to begin. Greenery matters can be brought up to Parliamentary level by law if necessary .

For those of us who would take the effort to study into this excellent PTA, they may now begin to realize why the trees in Singapore are so well planted. Trees in Singapore are an icon in the region, & have consistently been admired by the people of HK.

There have been a lot of ISA Research on the benefits of trees including helping patients to recover faster, building a more harmonious society & reducing crime in neighborhood. Having good trees around is not just an environmental issue but also a social sentiment nowadays. Singapore has long appreciated this fact & has built their country with good Tree Planting over the years, which has also helped develop their Tourist Industry. Trees in Singapore are looked after well by their Arborists & their contribution has been invaluable indeed.

This Station Mail may invite comments from our Station Members in HK, like a range of our other discussion in many topics. On the other hand, would anyone sending enquiries in please kindly note our circulation policy at the top of this message before sending?

Thank you for your kind attention.

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."