The Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section (GLTMS) of the Development Bureau today (April 28) held the Seminar on Asset Management of Trees on Private Property to brief representatives from property management organisations on the recently launched Handbook on Tree Management. The Handbook provides private property owners and property management companies with guidelines and standards for the proper care of trees on their property.
The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, said at the seminar today that collaboration with various stakeholders is necessary for proper tree care, and it is hoped that the Handbook on Tree Management can provide guidelines and standards of good practice on tree management.
"In collaboration with the Home Affairs Department, we will incorporate the Handbook in the Code of Practice on Building Management and Maintenance issued under the Building Management Ordinance. Property management companies and owners' corporations will be required to carry out proper tree management work to ensure public safety, like managing other facilities on their property," Mr Chan said.
Mr Chan thanked the Expert Panel on Tree Management, property management organisations, professional institutions and the arboricultural industry for sharing their experience and providing valuable suggestions on the content of the Handbook.
Also attending today's seminar were representatives from the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, the Hong Kong Institute of Housing, the Chartered Institute of Housing Asia Pacific Branch, Business Liaison Group for recreational clubs and the Home Affairs Department.
The Handbook comprises three main parts:
(1) Highlighting the legal provisions of tree management and the important points tree owners should pay attention to when implementing proper tree management;
(2) Providing the key steps in tree risk management, which include preparing a tree inventory, carrying out tree risk assessment, undertaking mitigation measures and keeping tree inspection records; and
(3) Emphasing the importance of proper tree care through appropriate tree planting practices and regular maintenance.
The Handbook is available on the GLTMS' website (www.greening.gov.hk).
The GLTMS also launched a new set of TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest (API) to encourage private property owners and property management companies to carry out regular tree inspection and maintenance, and undertake mitigation measures on trees when necessary to ensure public safety. The TV API can be viewed at isd.gov.hk/eng/tvapi/16_dv16.html.
Ends/Thursday, April 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:14
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