Treefall: Hong Kong government departments face criticism following tree felling
Governor for Alliance for a Beautiful Hong Kong says two trees have been cut down in Mid-Levels over past two years
Alarm bells have been sounded after two mature trees were felled on Bowen Road in Mid-Levels in apparent contravention of government guidelines.
The issue has been raised by local resident Melanie Moore, a governor for the Alliance for a Beautiful Hong Kong, who said she first alerted the government after noticing a tree along the popular public fitness path had been heavily pruned in 2014.
Over the course of two years, Moore contacted the Lands Department and the Tree Management Office to inform them the tree was being improperly pruned.
She was told the tree was within land that was temporarily allocated to the Water Supplies Department (WSD) – due to water main replacement work – and they would follow up on the matter.
In email correspondence seen by the Post, the WSD conducted an investigation and concluded that the pruning had not been carried out by the department or its contractor. The investigation also ruled out the Highways Department, which was also carrying out work in the area.