Gist of the Fourteenth Meeting held on 27 June 2014

1. The minutes of the 13th Panel Meeting and notes of site inspection on 30 April 2014 were confirmed, including Members' agreement during site inspection on the trial application of Trichoderma as a biological control agent on OVT LCSD YTM/97 which was seriously infected by Brown Root Rot disease at Kowloon Park, among several other trees.
2. Proposal to preserve OVT LCSD YTM/97
   • A proposal to preserve YTM/97 was presented by a proponent team using a special chemical but details of the chemical were not disclosed.
   • Members raised concerns on chemical composition, methodology and the lack of statistical and scientific analysis.
   • A scientific breakthrough through research would be appreciated. The Government remained open and welcomed research teams to share the scientific findings in the field.
3. Members noted that the assessment of potential extension of planter for OVT LCSD CW/75 on Garden Road. As the potential work would inevitably disturb the root system of the tree, members agreed that the proposal would not be desirable. However LCSD was requested to continue the efforts to promote the growth of the aerial roots so that they would become lignified support in the long run.
4. Members inspected OVT LCSD E/4 in Lei Yue Mun Park and proposed to obtain more resistograph readings in order to better understand the structural integrity of the tree and to explore if the height of the planter wall could be increased to retain more soil.