Experts question if 11 specimens on Hong Kong’s ‘Old and Valuable Trees’ list could have survived Typhoon Mangkhut with proper care
They were among more than 17,000 toppled by monster storm, as authorities come under fire over relevance of government register and quality of tree management
Hong Kong lost at least 11 heritage trees after Typhoon Mangkhut ripped through the city, but tree experts have said the monster storm was only partly to blame.
About half of the affected trees were found to be sick and poorly managed before the arrival of the typhoon, which was the city’s most intense on record. Experts questioned if the government had set up adequate protection for the trees.
While more than 17,000 trees were toppled by Mangkhut, the Development Bureau told the Post that 11 of them were on the “Old and Valuable Trees” list, a government register with 474 trees. The list was set up in 2004 with 527 trees but some have died and were removed, while others were added over the years.
Apart from those on the register, two banyan trees at private landmarks – 1881 Heritage in Tsim Sha Tsui and Penfold Park in Sha Tin – were uprooted by the storm. Works are still under way to save the former, while the latter will be removed because of severe damage.