Regal honour for huge banyan

A 200-year-old Chinese banyan in Kowloon Park has been crowned King of Urban Trees.

A rare rain tree on Wong Chuk Hang Road in Southern District was named Most Popular Urban Tree.

The contest was judged using the criteria of tree height, trunk diameter, crown spread, form, health, special features, rarity, ecological value, historical and cultural values.

The selection panel for the Provisional Urban Council's Tree Competition comprised tree experts and other environmentalists.

They agreed the 18-metre tall banyan in Yau Tsim Mong District was Hong Kong's biggest tree.

Its trunk is 4.3 m thick and it has a crown spread of 27 m.