Dangerous trees removed

November 16, 2012

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department has removed two old and valuable trees in danger of collapsing.
 
An 11-metre-tall Chinese banyan, located at the junction of Smithfield and Lung Wah Street in Kennedy Town, was left damaged and unstable after the passage of Typhoon Neoguri in 2008.
 
The department regularly trimmed the tree to reduce its weight and wind resistance, but its structural stability could not be regained.
 
The other tree was a 19-metre-tall Chinese banyan outside Pokfulam Road Playground.
 
Remedial measures, including trimming, applying fungicide, and installing cables, could not improve the tree's health.
 
The department decided to remove both trees to protect public safety, after consulting the Expert Panel on Tree Management.