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The Tree Management Office (TMO) of the Development Bureau today (August 23) held a meeting with some professional organisations and training institutions of arboriculture to discuss the matters on manpower, qualification and training of tree management.
The Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section of the Development Bureau, Miss Kathy Ng; the Head of the TMO, Dr Lawrence Chau; and 16 representatives from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Hong Kong Chapter, the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA), the Institute of Horticulture (Hong Kong), the Hong Kong Institute of Horticulture Science, the Hong Kong Trees Conservation Association, the Vocational Training Council, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, and the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong, attended the meeting.
The attendees agreed that it is necessary to continuously consolidate the information about professionals in the field for public reference. The Development Bureau maintains the List of Approved Specialist Contractors for Landscape Works. Meanwhile, there are local and overseas tree management professionals and organisations providing services of tree maintenance and tree risk assessment. They include ISA Certified Arborists, Accredited Arboriculture Practitioners by the HKILA, as well as members of local and overseas professional groups. Owners of private properties and property management companies may visit the TMO's website for information (www.trees.gov.hk/en/tree_care/info_tree_maintenance_pp/index.html).
The attendees also agreed that modern tree management is at an early stage of development in Hong Kong. The TMO, professional organisations and training institutions should work closely to provide systematic training to tree management staff of all levels, to raise the qualification requirement and to improve the standard of the industry.
Miss Ng concluded in the meeting that tree management is a professional field and appropriate tree maintenance services should be provided by teams with relevant qualifications, work experience and training. She said that the TMO will listen to the views of attendees and will continue to work with tree management departments, related training institutions and professional organisations to enhance the training for staff of all levels, aiming to train sufficient number of professional personnel for management, supervisory and frontline works. For information on training courses and professional qualification assessment, please visit the TMO's website (www.trees.gov.hk/en/about_gltms/arboriculture_organisations/index.html).
Ends/Saturday, August 23, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:40
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