1995 — Page 175

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 175 of 485

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

ISI

of parks, where they are less accessible to park visitors. The main reason why they are chosen is that many of them are visually attractive and can survive harsh growing conditions.

The Department is well aware of the need to ensure a high standard of safety in Council's parks and will continue to ensure that risks to visitors are minimal. As far as possible, we will put up warning signs alongside poisonous plants.

As regards legal liability, each claim will be referred to our Legal Advice Unit for advice. However, it is an offence to pick flowers or plants from parks and playgrounds under the Council's management, and more publicity and education will be given to get this message across to the public.

Mr. Chan Chol-hi (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have a few follow-up questions. According to today's Ming Pao Daily, Mr. Leung Wang-hoi, Staff Officer (Horticulture) of the Urban Services Department pointed out that 10% of all species of plants planted in UC parks are poisonous plants. But in the reply, the figure is 5%, so whom should I believe? This is my first question.

Secondly, as regards the number of poisonous plants, I would like to know the species of the plants in detail. Only two names are given here, namely the Nerium Oleander and the Albizia Lebbek in the reply, but 4 species are listed in the Ming Pao Daily. I would like to ask what attitude this is? Is this a disrespect to this Council? I am very dissatisfied with the fact that the number of species given in the reply is less than that reported by the media. Besides, I would like to know whether the Department has a timetable for reducing the number of poisonous plants to a minimum. I hope that the Department would formulate a timetable to reduce to a minimum the number of poisonous plants step by step.

Thirdly, I am not satisfied with the answer of putting up warning signs wherever possible. I hope that the Department would erect permanent signs at suitable locations to tell the public which plants are poisonous. The paper says that there are 50 species of poisonous plants. I hope that all of these plants will be labeled so as to warn the public that they are poisonous.

MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—Mr. CHAN read from the newspaper that Mr. LEUNG of the U.S.D. said 10% of our plants were poisonous. I don't know whether he was referring to percentage in terms of quantity of plants or in terms of species. The 5% mentioned in my reply, which is also information provided by the Department, refers to the percentage in species. I have to check the information with the Department before I can answer this question.

As regards the second question, Mr. CHAN said that only 2 species of poisonous plants are given in the reply but in fact, there are 50 of them. He asked why didn't we list out all of them? In fact, the Urban Council has published a book titled Hong Kong Poisonous Plants. It is available for sale to the public and can be bought at the Urban Council Publications Centre in City Hall. This book lists out all species of poisonous plants planted in UC venues. The 2 species mentioned in the reply are

Page 175 of 485

Page 175 Page 176

Page 176 of 485

Edit History

2026-05-15 23:46:14 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

Page 175 of 485 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ISI of parks, where they are less accessible to park visitors. The main reason why they are chosen is that many of them are visually attractive and can survive harsh growing conditions. The Department is well aware of the need to ensure a high standard of safety in Council's parks and will continue to ensure that risks to visitors are minimal. As far as possible, we will put up warning signs alongside poisonous plants. As regards legal liability, each claim will be referred to our Legal Advice Unit for advice. However, it is an offence to pick flowers or plants from parks and playgrounds under the Council's management, and more publicity and education will be given to get this message across to the public. Mr. Chan Chol-hi (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have a few follow-up questions. According to today's Ming Pao Daily, Mr. Leung Wang-hoi, Staff Officer (Horticulture) of the Urban Services Department pointed out that 10% of all species of plants planted in UC parks are poisonous plants. But in the reply, the figure is 5%, so whom should I believe? This is my first question. Secondly, as regards the number of poisonous plants, I would like to know the species of the plants in detail. Only two names are given here, namely the Nerium Oleander and the Albizia Lebbek in the reply, but 4 species are listed in the Ming Pao Daily. I would like to ask what attitude this is? Is this a disrespect to this Council? I am very dissatisfied with the fact that the number of species given in the reply is less than that reported by the media. Besides, I would like to know whether the Department has a timetable for reducing the number of poisonous plants to a minimum. I hope that the Department would formulate a timetable to reduce to a minimum the number of poisonous plants step by step. Thirdly, I am not satisfied with the answer of putting up warning signs wherever possible. I hope that the Department would erect permanent signs at suitable locations to tell the public which plants are poisonous. The paper says that there are 50 species of poisonous plants. I hope that all of these plants will be labeled so as to warn the public that they are poisonous. MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—Mr. CHAN read from the newspaper that Mr. LEUNG of the U.S.D. said 10% of our plants were poisonous. I don't know whether he was referring to percentage in terms of quantity of plants or in terms of species. The 5% mentioned in my reply, which is also information provided by the Department, refers to the percentage in species. I have to check the information with the Department before I can answer this question. As regards the second question, Mr. CHAN said that only 2 species of poisonous plants are given in the reply but in fact, there are 50 of them. He asked why didn't we list out all of them? In fact, the Urban Council has published a book titled Hong Kong Poisonous Plants. It is available for sale to the public and can be bought at the Urban Council Publications Centre in City Hall. This book lists out all species of poisonous plants planted in UC venues. The 2 species mentioned in the reply are Page 175 of 485 Page 175 of 485 Page 175 of 485 Page 175 Page 176 Page 176 of 485 Page 176 of 485

Baseline (Original)

Page 175 of 485 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ISI of parks, where they are less accessible to park visitors. The main reason why they are chosen is that many of them are visually attractive and can survive harsh growing conditions. The Department is well aware of the need to ensure a high standard of safety in Council's parks and will continue to ensure that risks to visitors are minimal. As far as possible, we will put up warning signs alongside poisonous plants. As regards legal liability, each claim will be referred to our Legal Advice Unit for advice. However, it is an offence to pick flowers or plants from parks and playgrounds under the Council's management, and more publicity and education will be given to get this message across to the public. Mr. Chan Chol-ht (in Cantonese);—Mr. Chairman, I have a few follow up questions. According to today's Ming Pao Daily, Mr. Leung Wang-hoi, Staff Officer (Horticulture) of the Urban Services Department pointed out that 10% of all species of plants planted in UC parks are poisonous plants. But in the reply the figure is 5%, so whom should I believe? This is my first question. Secondly, as regards the number of poisonous plants, I would like to know the species of the plants in detail. Only two names are given here, namely the Nerium Oleander and the Albizia Lebbek in the reply, but 4 species are listed in the Ming Pao Daily. I would like to ask what attitude this is? Is this a disrespect to this Council? I am very dissatisfied with the fact that the number of species given in the reply is less than that reported by the media. Besides, I would like to know whether the Department has a time-table for reducing the number of poisonous plants to a minimum. I hope that the Department would formulate a time-table to reduce to a minimum the number of poisonous plants step by step. Thirdly, I am not satisfied with the answer of putting up warning signs wherever possible I hope that the Department would erect permanent signs at suitable locations to tell the public which plants are poisonous. The paper says that there are 50 species of poisonous plants I hope that all of these plants will be labeled so as to warn the public that they are poisonous. MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chIU (in Cantonese):—Mr. CHAN read from the newspaper that Mr. LEUNG of the U.S.D. said 10% of our plants were poisonous I don't know whether he was referring to percentage in terms of quantity of plants or in terms of species. The 5% mentioned in my reply, which is also information provided by the Department, refers to the percentage in species. I have to check the information with the Department before I can answer this question. As regards the second question, Mr. CHAN said that only 2 species of poisonous plants are given in the reply but in fact there are 50 of them. He asked why didn't we list out all of them? In fact, the Urban Council has published a book titled Hong Kong Poisonous Plants. It is available for sale to the public and can be bought at the Urban Council Publications Centre in City Hall. This book lists out all species of poisonous plants planted in UC venues. The 2 species mentioned in the reply are Page 175 of 485 Page 175 of 485 Page 175 of 485 Page 175Page 176 Page 176 of 485 Page 176 of 485

2026-05-15 23:46:14 · Baseline

View content

Page 175 of 485

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

ISI

of parks, where they are less accessible to park visitors. The main reason why they are chosen is that many of them are visually attractive and can survive harsh growing conditions.

Mr. Chan Chol-ht (in Cantonese);—Mr. Chairman, I have a few follow up questions. According to today's Ming Pao Daily, Mr. Leung Wang-hoi, Staff Officer (Horticulture) of the Urban Services Department pointed out that 10% of all species of plants planted in UC parks are poisonous plants. But in the reply the figure is 5%, so whom should I believe? This is my first question.

Secondly, as regards the number of poisonous plants, I would like to know the species of the plants in detail. Only two names are given here, namely the Nerium Oleander and the Albizia Lebbek in the reply, but 4 species are listed in the Ming Pao Daily. I would like to ask what attitude this is? Is this a disrespect to this Council? I am very dissatisfied with the fact that the number of species given in the reply is less than that reported by the media. Besides, I would like to know whether the Department has a time-table for reducing the number of poisonous plants to a minimum. I hope that the Department would formulate a time-table to reduce to a minimum the number of poisonous plants step by step.

Thirdly, I am not satisfied with the answer of putting up warning signs wherever possible I hope that the Department would erect permanent signs at suitable locations to tell the public which plants are poisonous. The paper says that there are 50 species of poisonous plants I hope that all of these plants will be labeled so as to warn the public that they are poisonous.

MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chIU (in Cantonese):—Mr. CHAN read from the newspaper that Mr. LEUNG of the U.S.D. said 10% of our plants were poisonous I don't know whether he was referring to percentage in terms of quantity of plants or in terms of species. The 5% mentioned in my reply, which is also information provided by the Department, refers to the percentage in species. I have to check the information with the Department before I can answer this question.

As regards the second question, Mr. CHAN said that only 2 species of poisonous plants are given in the reply but in fact there are 50 of them. He asked why didn't we list out all of them? In fact, the Urban Council has published a book titled Hong Kong Poisonous Plants. It is available for sale to the public and can be bought at the Urban Council Publications Centre in City Hall. This book lists out all species of poisonous plants planted in UC venues. The 2 species mentioned in the reply are

Page 175 of 485

Page 175Page 176

Page 176 of 485

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.