New Home:
Secretary for Development Carrie Lam (centre) and Urban Renewal Authority Chairman Barry Cheung (fourth left) witness the Kwun Tong tree transplant.
Heavy load:
Although the new home in Yuet Wah Park is just 70 metres away, the transplant is no easy task as the tree weighs 300-tonnes.
New home for Kwun Tong icon
May 01, 2011
Moving home is never an easy task. Besides the time spent on finding the best location, other preparation work takes a lot of effort.
A 40-year-old Chinese Banyan tree rooted at the Yuet Wah Street bus station has been affected by the Kwun Tong redevelopment project.
As the tree means a lot to the neighbourhood, the Urban Renewal Authority and developer decided to conserve it and move it to Yuet Wah Park, 70 metres away. Despite the seemingly short distance, the transplant involved a lot of work.
Huge task
Urban Renewal Authority Chairman Barry Cheung said: “It is a tremendous technical challenge. We are moving 300 tonnes of tree and soil, which is equivalent to the weight of a 747 airplane.”
The rootball is so large it cannot even be lifted by crane. The May 1 move involved about 100 people, using a temporary railing system. With each metre moved, it took another session to reset the equipment to move another metre.
Mr Cheung said although the tree is not a special species, and not even in the government tree directory, it has been a companion to Kwun Tong residents for four decades.
“The shape of the tree is quite pretty. It would be a pity if it fell down because of the redevelopment plan. We are happy to save it although the task is not easy.”
The team finished the move this morning, however, they need three more weeks to put the tree back in the ground.
Kwun Tong icon
Hong Kong University Department of Geography Chair Professor Jim Chi-yung said today's transplant was the largest in recent years.
“If we were to move a tree, we want to move it in its best form. We do not want to reduce it, deform it or weaken it. We keep almost the entire plant. We believe it is the largest and the most beautiful tree in Kwun Tong.”
The authority, developer and experts planned the transplant for more than a year, saying Yuet Wah Park is the most suitable location for the tree.
He hopes the move will allow Kwun Tong citizens to enjoy the tree for generations to come.
The authority will maintain and observe the tree over the next five years to ensure it grows healthily.
