Government’s response to tree collapse incident at Perth Street, Ho Man Tin
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In response to media enquiries on the tree collapse incident at Perth Street, Ho Man Tin this morning (September 16), the Development Bureau (DEVB) as well as the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) gave a response as follows:
The 9.5-metre high Delonix regia located at the pavement outside 6 Perth Street is under the LCSD’s maintenance. It is not an old and valuable tree. LCSD staff had all along been monitoring the health of the tree and conducting regular tree maintenance work including pruning. During the last inspection carried out by LCSD staff on April 22, no signs of decay were found on the branches, trunk and the surface of the tree roots.
The Tree Management Office (TMO) of the DEVB is highly concerned with the incident and requested the LCSD to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the tree collapse by early October.
Meanwhile, members of the LCSD’s tree team had also preliminarily inspected the other 34 trees managed by the department at Perth Street and confirmed that no irregularities were found.
The TMO of the DEVB has requested the LCSD to conduct detailed inspections on the health and structural conditions of the trees there. The TMO will take prompt follow-up actions once the report on tree collapse is completed by the LCSD.
Moreover, the TMO has already requested all tree maintenance departments to review the situation of large Delonix regia located near the roadside within the area under their management in order to ensure public safety.