Consultancy given task of saving historic Hong Kong banyan tree toppled by Typhoon Mangkhut

Workers seen watering giant tree’s roots, which were wrapped in cloth, near 1881 Heritage hotel and boutique mall site in Tsim Sha Tsui

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A worker sprays water on the roots of the Chinese banyan tree at 1881 Heritage in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 6:15pm, 19 Sep 2018Updated: 11:14pm, 19 Sep 2018

A consultancy firm will attempt to rescue a century-old giant Chinese banyan tree uprooted when Typhoon Mangkhut ripped through Hong Kong, the Post has learned.

On Wednesday workers were seen watering the tree’s roots, which were wrapped in cloth, near the 1881 Heritage hotel and boutique mall site in Tsim Sha Tsui, where the banyan had stood at the former marine police headquarters for more than 100 years.

The Post reported on Tuesday that time was running out for the historic tree – widely regarded as part of the city’s collective memory – after being toppled by the monster storm on Sunday.

The tree had stood at the former marine police headquarters for more than 100 years. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Its roots were initially exposed to the sun, which sparked calls from veteran tree expert Jim Chi-yung to immediately try to save the banyan by keeping the roots moist as the roots plate was still intact.

The tree was cordoned off on Wednesday. Two 1881 Heritage employees said experts had inspected the tree in the morning and it was now being protected by keeping the roots moist with dampened hessian, a woven fabric often used for sacks.