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The Architectural Services Department removed a tree on a slope of Hong Kong Park and under the Register of Old and Valuable Trees (OVTs) today (July 26) to ensure public safety.
The tree, a Brachychiton rupestris (Queensland bottle tree), was listed as ARCHSD CW/48 on the Register and was originally donated to the Government in 2005.
This tree species is native to Australia and grows in arid environments with a special structure and form that evolved for water storage, which makes it vulnerable to fungal diseases under humid and wet local climates.
The department conducted regular detailed tree inspections since the tree was registered as an OVT in February 2013. During the tree inspection in April this year, a rapid decline of health and abnormalities including bleeding (sap flow), sparse foliage and fungal fruiting bodies were detected. A laboratory diagnosis conducted in May confirmed that the tree had been infected by several types of fungi causing severe trunk decay. Fungicide and other mitigation measures were applied, and steel cables were installed to guy the tree to minimise the risk of tree collapse.
The latest close monitoring on July 21 revealed significant enlargement of a crack at the lower part of the trunk, indicating very poor structural stability with imminent risk of failure. After a joint site inspection on July 25, the Tree Management Office of the Development Bureau and the Expert Panel on Tree Management, which comprises non-government tree experts, supported the recommendation of immediate tree removal.
Ends/Saturday, July 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:02
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