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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) sent its best wishes to the persons injured by the collapse of a tree in the Battery Path Amenity Plot in Central today (June 27).
The 10-metre high Chinese banyan tree, located inside the Battery Path Amenity Plot is under LCSD's maintenance. It is not an old and valuable tree (OVT). LCSD last inspected the tree on March 31 this year during which no irregularities were found.
Members of LCSD's tree team and staff from the Tree Management Office of the Development Bureau went to the scene immediately following today's incident. It was initially believed that the tree had collapsed as a result of soil erosion on the surface of the slope due to heavy rainfall in recent days and massive water intake by the tree crown leading to weight gain. The department would conduct detailed investigations into the issue.
Meanwhile, members of LCSD's tree team had also inspected the other four trees managed by the department inside the Battery Path Amenity Plot and no irregularities were found. The department would closely monitor the situation in order to ensure public safety.
The Chinese banyan tree which collapsed today was not among the 2,000 trees identified to be in need of further inspection during an earlier inspection drive by the government on trees at venues with high pedestrian and traffic flow.
Ends/Sunday, June 27, 2010
Issued at HKT 22:55
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