My colleagues and I were deeply saddened by the fatal tree collapse incident on Robinson Road in the middle of last month, and we wish the injured baby a speedy recovery. Since the incident, we have received many comments from the community on tree management issues. The Government will maintain an open attitude, listen to your views and keep working hard on tree management. At the same time, as there are millions of trees in Hong Kong, we need your assistance and co-operation in monitoring them and, in particular, your undertaking to take responsibility for the maintenance of trees on your own property.
Trees are highly treasured by people in Hong Kong and our green environment is closely intertwined with our daily lives. Just like us, trees go through a life cycle of growing, ageing, sickness and death. We therefore have to manage any potential tree risk through risk assessment to minimise the risk of tree collapse, especially in places with high pedestrian and traffic flows.
In addition to our strenuous efforts in tree risk management, we also need the assistance and co-operation of private property owners and property management companies. Let me briefly explain how we may complement each other’s work.
Over the years, the Government has adopted an “integrated approach” in tree management on government land. The Tree Management Office (TMO) of the Development Bureau co-ordinates the Government’s tree management policies and enhances professionalism in tree management. Meanwhile, private lot owners are responsible for tree maintenance on their lots. Nonetheless, every year before the onset of the wet season, the TMO will take the initiative to write to private property owners and property management companies reminding them of their responsibility to maintain trees properly within their premises. This year, letters were issued on March 24. In addition, the TMO will provide them with relevant information and call on them to engage professional contractors to inspect trees and take necessary and timely measures to reduce the risk of tree collapse, such as removing dead trees or trees posing an immediate danger, pruning dead branches, supporting leaning trees, and so forth.
We have also taken a multi-pronged approach in helping private property owners, property management personnel and the public, to highlight the importance of tree care and their responsibilities. Measures include organising tree care seminars every year before the wet season. Over the past two weeks, the TMO and the Home Affairs Department jointly held a number of seminars on tree management for private owners. Speakers from professional tree management bodies, property management companies and the insurance sector explained the various issues and responsibilities involved in detail.
We understand your concern on tree care within private lots. First of all, we have to bear in mind that private lot owners are responsible for the proper maintenance and management of trees on their own property. In fact, under the current common law system, a person will be held liable if a tree in their possession causes injuries to any other person, while any organisations or people responsible for managing trees may also be liable for negligence and default. In addition, private lot owners have to comply with any tree preservation and landscape clauses on their private land leases, otherwise the Lands Department will take follow-up action against any violations.
We also understand that there are voices in the community urging for the enactment of further tree legislation. The Government will take a cautious and open-minded attitude on this issue and will listen to the views of different stakeholders. As further regulating tree maintenance on private land has far-reaching implications, we must handle it carefully. As mentioned previously, we have been familiarising private property owners with their responsibilities through public education. At the current stage, we consider it more important and practical to focus on public education and community surveillance.
Moreover, tree management is a professional field and tree maintenance services should be provided by teams with relevant qualifications, work experience and training. Not long ago, the TMO held a meeting with a number of arboriculture-related organisations and training institutions to discuss matters on the manpower, qualification and training of tree management personnel. The attendees agreed that it is necessary to continuously update information on the existing professionals in the field for public reference. Currently, the Development Bureau maintains a list of approved specialist contractors for landscape work. In addition, there are various local and overseas tree management professionals and organisations providing tree maintenance services and tree risk assessment. Private property owners and property management companies may visit the TMO website at www.trees.gov.hk/en/tree_care/info_tree_maintenance_pp/index.html for further information. The attendees also agreed that tree management in Hong Kong is still at a relatively early stage of development. The TMO, professional organisations and training institutions must work closely to provide systematic training for tree management staff of all levels, and to raise the qualification requirements and professionalism of the industry.
Lastly, I would call on you all to help monitor trees in the community and report problematic trees to us through the government hotline “1823” and via the app “Tell me@1823” for iPhone and Android mobiles. With the exact locations of problematic trees recorded through the global positioning system, as well as photos, audio recordings or text descriptions of the trees concerned, the relevant departments will be able to verify reports on problematic trees for follow-up action as soon as possible.
Thank you.
7 September, 2014
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