A tree specialist has called on the government to let members of the public nominate old and important trees for a heritage list.
Professor Jim Chi-yung, of the University of Hong Kong, said the present heritage list was confined to trees on public land and based mainly on suggestions from government departments. He said the number of nominations was small because departments were afraid of creating more work for themselves in the future.
Since the register was established in 2004, 527 trees have been placed on it, but by August last year one in 10 had been removed because of typhoon damage and disease.
Secretary for Development Paul Chan Mo-po said early this month that the government had added 20 trees to the register, including some growing on stone walls in Pok Fu Lam and an incense tree in Kowloon Tsai Park.
Chan said the government invited departments, experts, professional groups and green groups to nominate trees.
But Jim said the government should not allow fear of opposition from land owners to confine its nominations to public trees.