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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (December 4) removed a Cotton tree at Wan Tau Kok Playground in Tai Po for public safety.
Following detailed inspections by department staff and arborists, and analysis by members of the tree expert group, the tree was believed to have fungal diseases in the root system. This affected the transportation of nutrients and water, causing the tree to deteriorate severely and being a potential danger of collapse.
Listed on the Register of Old and Valuable Trees with the registration number LCSD TP/1, the 23-metre-tall Cotton tree was located on a slope adjacent to a five-a-side soccer pitch at Wan Tau Kok Playground, Tai Po. The department staff had been conducting regular inspections and carrying out suitable maintenance measures on the tree. It had been closely monitored after abnormalities were found during an inspection by department staff and the arborists mid-this year. Suitable remedial measures and application of fungicide were carried out on the tree.
However, when department staff inspected the tree again in October, they found that most of the leaves had fallen, its bark had peeled off and its root had signs of fungal attack. Following detailed inspections by department staff and arborists, the tree was believed to have fungal diseases in the root system, which affected the transportation of nutrition and water, causing the tree to deteriorate severely. After analysis by members of the tree expert group, the tree was confirmed to be in danger of collapsing and should be removed for the sake of public safety.
The LCSD stressed that it would continue to adopt a prudent approach in managing its trees. Removing a problematic tree would only be the last resort when there was no viable option to keep it.
Ends/Friday, December 4, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:55
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