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Olga Wong

The government has taken action to protect a tree designated the new 'wishing tree' at Hang Ha Po village from  further damage from placards and offerings thrown  by seekers of good fortune.

The deciduous Chinese hackberry  at the roadside of  the village in Tai Po became  a substitute for the dying wishing tree at Lam Tsuen during Lunar New Year last month.

A government spokeswoman said last month that the Hang Ha Po tree was on private land and therefore authorities could do nothing to protect it.

But in a written reply to the Legislative Council yesterday, Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping said  the tree was actually on public land, which meant it should be  maintained by the government.

Mr Ho said the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department had  inspected  the tree  last month  and were satisfied with its   condition.

The  inspection did not find stalls or other outlets selling placards  tied with fruit or heavy objects.

Mr Ho said successful tenderers  for the Lunar New Year fair at Tai Po had been prohibited from selling the placards.

They were warned their licences would be terminated if they breached the condition.

Mr Ho said the government  had removed  paper placards from  the tree and had put up notices to remind the public not to throw objects onto it.

The leisure department had also stepped up inspection of trees maintained by the government. Inspections are made twice a day.

University of Hong Kong chair professor in geography, tree expert Jim Chi-yung,  said the Chinese hackberry  was commonly found in mature forests and in suburban areas and he welcomed the government's actions.

For future protection of the tree, Mr Ho said the LCSD and Tai Po District Office would  continue to monitor the tree closely.

The FEHD will also continue to conduct raids against illegal hawkers on government land.

Hang Ha Po village representative Lam Wo-an  yesterday declined to comment about the fate of the 'wishing tree'.



Keep fruit, placards off substitute wishing tree, say officials