Family performs ritual for cyclist killed by tree
The family of a cyclist who died after being hit by a falling branch burned joss sticks and paper offerings yesterday at the scene of the tragedy, a cycling track in Yuen Chau Kok Park.
Choi Kit-keung, 49, who suffered head injuries in the Sha Tin park on Monday, died late on Tuesday.
Family members wept during the simple Taoist ritual carried out shortly after 9.30am. They refused to answer questions and left the scene immediately after the brief ritual.
The family has criticised the government's management of trees and said the incident was the result of negligence, because the risky condition of the tree had not been spotted during a check about a month ago.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said yesterday it was saddened by Choi's death and again expressed condolences to his family.
'We stand ready to provide them with all possible assistance,' a spokesman for the department said.
After the incident, departmental officers started a detailed inspection of 420 trees in the vicinity of Yuen Chau Kok Park, which they completed yesterday. A total of 110 trees were checked yesterday, of which 12 were removed because of their deteriorating condition in the rainy weather.
A total of 16 trees were removed during the three-day operation.
A department spokesman noted that officers would continue to closely monitor the trees in the park and would step up inspection of trees in various districts, especially those located in areas with high pedestrian or traffic flow.
'We will also take prompt follow-up actions to enhance our tree maintenance work to ensure public safety,' the spokesman said.
Officers from Sha Tin district crime squad continued their investigation into the incident but did not disclose any progress yesterday.
Choi's family decided to donate his liver, heart, kidneys and corneas for medical purposes. Surgeons used his liver to give a middle-aged cancer patient a new lease of life.
Conservationists suspect the 15-metre yellow poinciana responsible for Choi's death, a branch of which snapped off four metres above the ground, had internal decay.
