The Leisure & Cultural Services Department today removed a withered old tree at Jockey Club Tak Wah Park in Tsuen Wan to ensure public safety.
 
The Ginkgo biloba tree, with a height of nine metres, is listed on the Register of Old & Valuable Trees. Its health was found to be deteriorating with sparse tree crown density and twigs dieback in 2018.

The department subsequently enhanced maintenance work and carried out regular health inspections on it so as to make corresponding follow-up arrangements.
 
As the tree's health condition continued to worsen, inspections and maintenance works were strengthened such as conducting soil aeration, applying fertiliser and enlarging the tree pit.

However, inspections in August 2022 showed that the wood tissue was dehydrated completely with no new bud emergence observed.
 
Upon consultation with the Development Bureau’s Greening, Landscape & Tree Management Section, Urban Forestry Advisory Panel and Tsuen Wan District Council, the tree was removed and a Sapium sebiferum will be replanted.
 
The department reiterated that it will adopt a prudent approach in inspecting and managing trees under its care, and the removal of problematic trees will be undertaken only when no other viable risk mitigation measure is available.