Four trees collapse in Hong Kong after heavy rain as government defends axing century-old banyans on safety grounds

Four trees collapsed in Hong Kong following a night of heavy rain amid the government’s controversial decision to cut down four century-old Chinese banyans after several similar trees fell from stone walls during recent storms.

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The fallen tree in Repulse Bay. Photo: SCMP

Published: 10:30am, 10 Aug 2015Updated: 11:35am, 11 Aug 2015

Four trees collapsed in Hong Kong on Monday morning following a night of heavy rain amid the government’s controversial decision to cut down four century-old Chinese banyans after several similar trees fell from stone walls during recent storms.

The first report was received by police at around 6am of a 10-metre tall tree that collapsed onto two cars in the car park of a private estate at 78 Repulse Bay Road – the first of two trees to fall in Southern District. The Fire Services Department was called in to cut and remove the tree.

Barely an hour later, a four-metre tall tree was reported to have toppled over at 37 Garden Road near St Joseph’s Church in Central and at 8am, a five-metre tall tree was reported to have collapsed at 4A Stanley Village Road in Stanley – the second to fall in Southern District. A closed-circuit television camera was damaged.

Two vehicles were then struck by a fallen tree on Ling Shan Road near Ling Shan Tsuen, Sheung Shui at around 8.30am.

No one was injured in any of the incidents.

An amber rainstorm was cancelled by the Hong Kong Observatory at 4.30am.

The Observatory forecast showers for the rest of the week.