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Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (December 11):
Question:
In reply to my question in February 2012, the authorities indicated that they had adopted a number of measures to curb the proliferation of a climbing plant Mikania micrantha in rural areas. However, I have learnt that the proliferation of Mikania micrantha has seen signs of drastic deterioration this year, and quite a number of plants withered because they were strangled by Mikania micrantha. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the scope and total area of the proliferation of Mikania micrantha since 2012;
(b) of the new measures adopted by the authorities since 2012 to prevent Mikania micrantha from harming trees;
(c) as the authorities indicated in 2004 that the joint study carried out by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Guangdong Forestry Bureau on control of Mikania micrantha had been completed, resulting in the identification of a herbicide "Sulfometuron-methyl" which was effective in killing the weed, and AFCD had carried out the trials on the application of this herbicide and would closely monitor its performance over a longer period of time, of the effects of the application of this herbicide by AFCD; and the reasons for the continuous proliferation of Mikania micrantha after the application of this herbicide; and
(d) whether the authorities will formulate measures which are more effective in curbing the proliferation of Mikania micrantha; if they will, of the details of the measures; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
On the different parts of the question raised by Hon Chan, our reply is as follows:
(a) Mikania (Mikania micrantha) mainly grows on low-lying, moist areas with ample sunlight such as derelict fields, around villages, roadside, and woodland fringes. Currently, government departments have conducted regular inspections and vegetation maintenance work at sites under their management. Once Mikania is found, immediate weeding will be carried out to prevent its proliferation.
Last year (2012) government departments, including the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Water Supplies Department, Drainage Services Department and Lands Department cleared 4.3 hectares of land being affected by Mikania micrantha.
(b) and (d) The best way to avoid the proliferation of Mikania is by adopting preventive measures. Government departments carry out inspections and maintenance work for the plants within their facilities and on slopes under their management, including monitoring the growth of Mikania. For instance, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department regularly inspects country parks, special areas and sites of special scientific interest. Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Highways Department and Water Supplies Department will inspect parks, highways and waterworks facilities respectively. The departments concerned will remove Mikania promptly once it is found. Landowners and management agents of private housing estates should be responsible for the locations within their properties.
(c) Control of Mikania is also possible by chemical methods. However, the application of chemical control (including use of "Sulfometuron-methyl") should be conducted with care, and would not be suitable for sites near water sources, active agricultural land, residential areas and ecologically sensitive areas. The most appropriate control measures should be decided after considering specific site conditions.
According to the record of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the total area affected by Mikania within country parks and special areas has not shown any increase in the past two years. Depending on specific site conditions, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will decide the most suitable measure of Mikania control, which may include physical and chemical control methods. Since the areas affected by Mikania could readily and effectively be treated by physical control, chemical control methods were not applied by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in the past two years.
Ends/Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:44
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