'Tree daddy' warns that Hong Kong government's 'twisted logic' will lead to massacres on private land

A leading tree advocate said the government used "twisted logic" in deferring enactment of a tree law and warned of an outbreak of "tree massacres" on private land as a result. Professor Jim Chi-yung, whose draft tree law the government has failed to act on for more than a decade, called on the administration to drop its traditional non-committal stance after a spate of tree-felling incidents rekindled concerns. "There's an emerging trend of private property owners chopping down their trees to free themselves of their tree maintenance responsibilities. This is what we call a tragedy of the commons," said Jim, whose advocacy has earned him the nickname "tree daddy". "Overseas countries regard the value of trees highly and do whatever they can to save an ailing tree. But what we see in Hong Kong is an ill bird that fouls its own nest." Liability issues for over 800,000 private property owners and a lack of qualified tree specialists are the biggest stumbling blocks to legislation, according to Lawrence Chau Kam-chiu, head of the government's Tree Management Office. "We should be cautious on the enactment of an ordinance on tree management as there will be significant impact on hundreds of thousands of private property owners," wrote Chau in a recent reply to an inquiry by Civic Party lawmaker Claudia Mo Man-ching. But Jim, a geography scholar at the University of Hong Kong, accused the government of making excuses to shirk its responsibility to maintain and protect trees on public and private land. What we see in Hong Kong is an ill bird that fouls its own nest Professor Jim Chi-yung "This is really a twisted logic. You can't say that because people don't like to be regulated you should leave them alone," he said. "Precisely because private property owners are reluctant to take responsibility for tree management the government needs to impose regulations." Calls for a tree law have mounted in recent years amid rising awareness of conservation, a string of incidents involving New Territories villagers chopping down healthy trees to protest against government policies, and several serious accidents. That includes the death of a pregnant woman in August last year who was struck by a falling tree on a private slope in Mid-Levels. Central and Western district councillor Cheng Lai-king said that after the death the Lands Department issued a letter to all private housing estates reminding owners to properly maintain trees. "As far as I know, most of the housing estates have cut down the trees that they think are difficult to maintain, be they healthy or not," Cheng said recently. "They're all afraid of being held liable for any injuries caused by their trees." The debate flared up again after the government last month cut down four well-known, century-old Chinese banyan trees attached to a stone wall between Bonham Road and St Stephen's Lane in Sai Ying Pun. The hasty felling happened weeks after another tree collapsed in high winds and rain on July 22, injuring two people. READ MORE: Experts blame shoddy and dangerous tree maintenance on lack of respect for the job in Hong Kong Jim said the lack of a tree law enabled private landowners to wantonly fell trees and escape civic and legal responsibilities, especially those with old leases that contained no tree preservation clause. "Without such a clause, landowners do not need the Lands Department's approval to remove trees and they can do as they please. Some don't hire qualified contractors or arborists to maintain their trees, thus posing threats to public safety," he explained, adding that only a small percentage of land leases contain such a clause. Jim said a tree law could close this glaring vacuum. He also said some private property owners in Kowloon Tong and Shek Kip Mei chose to fell healthy trees to avoid bearing high maintenance costs and legal responsibilities. In June, management at a private housing estate in Kowloon Tong reportedly chopped down 28 trees after being alerted by the Lands Department that one posed a potential hazard. The department's letter emphasised "approval from the Lands Department is not required for any proposed tree removal under the government lease". Jim said this discouraged owners from taking responsibility for tree maintenance. Sarah Wong Ka-ying, chairwoman of the owners' corporation at Metro Harbour View, Tai Kok Tsui, agreed owners were responsible for properly maintaining trees on their land. But she said a rigid law aimed at private property owners without subsidies or other incentives might trigger a backlash. "The tree maintenance costs are really so high that many private owners are reluctant to pay more," she said. "I'm afraid some owners may stop saving ailing trees or simply choose to plant smaller ones." John Ho Kin-chuen, president of arboriculture organisation ISA Hong Kong Chapter, said the government should codify different existing legislation concerning tree protection into a single law that prescribes the responsibilities of tree owners and a qualification system for tree specialists, including certified arborists and tree worker climbers. He also supported the idea of setting up a centralised government agency empowered by a tree law. At present, about eight departments share responsibility for tree management on government land, resulting in a lack of coordinated practices.

'Tree daddy' warns that Hong Kong government's 'twisted logic' will lead to massacres on private land

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Professor known as city's 'tree daddy' urges introduction of tree law to halt hasty private removals and better ensure public safety

Professor known as city's 'tree daddy' urges introduction of tree law to halt hasty private removals and better ensure public safety