Maryknoll Convent School could be prosecuted for breaching requirements of the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance in carrying out drainage work that ultimately saw a landmark tree cut down.
The Kowloon Tong school, a declared monument, had not fulfilled the conditions of the permit issued for its drainage work, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor told lawmakers yesterday. That work resulted in damage to more than half the roots of the 70-year-old pine, and the school felled it on February 6.
Lam said the school also felled 18 trees in December 2008 without submitting a removal plan to the Antiquities and Monuments Office.
The bureau would investigate whether it had violated the ordinance. The maximum penalty for offences is a HK$100,000 fine and a year in jail.
The drainage permit required the school to submit details and descriptions of the proposed work to the monuments office 15 working days before it started.
It also had to inform the office of the start and finish dates 10 working days before the work was to start. The school failed to meet both requirements, Lam said.