18
SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 1985
+OUR CITY WOULD HAVE LOST THE 30 BEAUTIFUL PALM TREES IF THE URBAN COUNCIL HAD NOT MADE AN EFFORT TO HELP SALVAGE THEM, + SAID MR C.A. WONG, AMENITIES OFFICER (HORTICULTURE) OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
+FORTUNATELY, THE OWNER AND THE DEVELOPER OF THE SITE ARE AS APPRECIATIVE AS THE URBAN COUNCIL OF THE HIGH ORNAMENTAL VALUE OF THESE PALM TREES, AND SO WE JOINED FORCES TO SALVAGE THEM DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES AND RISKS IN MOVING TREES OF THIS SIZE. +
THE TRANSPLANTING OF THE PALM TREES IS TAKING PLACE IN TWO STAGES. THE FIRST STAGE WAS COMPLETED EARLY THIS MONTH WHEN 10 PALM TREES WERE REMOVED BY A MECHANICAL DIGGER FROM THE SITE AND TRANSPLANTED TO THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL APPROACH'S AMENITY AREA.
MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE DEVELOPER AND THE CONTRACTOR SUPPLIED MANPOWER AND MACHINERY IN THE TRANSPLANTING OPERATION WITH THE URBAN COUNCIL PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.
THE NEXT STAGE OF THE TRANSPLANTING EXERCISE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF MANAGER (LEISURE SERVICES) FOR HONG KONG, MR ROGER POLLARD, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S TREE SECTIONS WERE ALWAYS ON THE GUARD AGAINST ANY INDISCRIMINATE CHOPPING DOWN OF TREES IN PUBLIC PLACES.
+TREES ARE ONLY CUT DOWN IF THEY OBSTRUCT THE CONSTRUCTION OF ESSENTIAL PUBLIC WORKS, OR SLOPE STABILISATION, AND WHERE NO ALTERNATIVES COULD BE FOUND, + HE
SAID.
+HOWEVER, EVEN IF THE TREES HAVE TO BE REMOVED, OUR TREE SECTIONS WILL TRY EVERY MEANS TO SALVAGE THEM IF THEY ARE WORTH PRESERVING.
+THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT ALL TREES OF HIGH ORNAMENTAL VALUE CAN BE SALVAGED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TAKE A RISK IN ANY TRANSPLANTING OPERATION. IF THE RISK IS REASONABLE AND IF A TREE HAS A 50 PER CENT CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. WE WILL NORMALLY GO AHEAD WITH THE SALVAGE OPERATION, SAID MR POLLARD.
HE SAID TREES WITH FIBROUS ROOTS CAN BE TRANSPLANTED EASILY BECAUSE THEY CAN TOLERATE CONSIDERABLE ROOT DAMAGE. HOWEVER, TAP-ROOTED TREES, THE ROOTS OF WHICH GO VERY DEEPLY DOWN INTO THE SOIL, ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TRANSPLANT. SIMILARLY, TREES WHICH HAVE BEEN GROWING ON A STEEP SLOPE FOR A LONG TIME RARELY ADAPT TO CHANGE.
/+IN GENERAL,