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Clifford Lo

An auspicious pine tree valued at about $200 was stolen yesterday from a park in Kowloon City, in a theft believed to be the first of its kind in an urban area in Hong Kong.

Police were called to Carpenter Road Park shortly before 10am after a Leisure and Cultural Services Department worker reported that the tree had been stolen.

The 75cm pine, or 'fung shui tree', was removed from a plant bed near the park exit at the junction of Carpenter Road and South Wall Road, police said.

About 50 of the pine trees were planted in the park about a year ago.

All the trees were intact when inspected on Thursday afternoon.

It is believed to be the first time that this species of tree has been stolen from an urban park in Hong Kong.

The trees are native to the east coast of Sai Kung and are known to have been a target of thieves from the mainland since 2001.

They are highly sought after by property and cemetery developers, who pay tens of thousands of dollars for large trees in good condition.

The theft yesterday followed the jailing last month of five mainlanders for plotting to steal the endangered species.

District Court judge Mary Yuen Lai-wah increased each of the culprits' custodial sentences from two years, to two years and eight months, in line with a call from prosecutors.

Judge Yuen said they were guilty of a serious, organised crime that was detrimental to the environment.

The five were arrested in possession of nine of the pine trees on February 12.

Marine police intercepted their motorised sampan near Waglan Island, close to the border between Hong Kong and mainland waters.

Police also found a handsaw aboard the vessel.

In June, the government said police would push for harsher penalties under the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance as part of efforts to crack down on theft of the pine trees.



'Fung shui' tree thieves strike in city park for first time