The Greening Policy

We are striving to uplift the quality of our living environment through active planting, proper maintenance and preservation of trees together with other vegetation.

Our target is to bring about noticeable improvements in urban greenery, to enrich existing greened areas, and to enhance opportunities of quality greening during the planning and development of public works projects.

The Task Force on Tree Management

The Report of the Task Force on Tree Management

The Task Force on Tree Management, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration and comprising relevant bureaux and departments, released its report on 29 June 2009 after a three-month review of a range of issues regarding tree management in Hong Kong. The Task Force made a number of recommendations in the report for improving tree management on various fronts, addressing in particular concerns about the public safety aspects of tree management expressed by the Coroner's Court relating to a fatal tree collapse case in Stanley and the jury's recommendations.

TV Announcements on Tree Management

Establishment of the Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section in DEVB

As recommended in the "Report of the Task Force on Tree Management – People, Trees, Harmony", the Greening, Landscape and Tree Management (GLTM) Section was established under the Works Branch of DEVB in March 2010 to champion a strategic policy on greening, landscaping and tree management, with a view to achieving the sustainable development of a greener environment for Hong Kong.

The GLTM Section is underpinned by the Greening and Landscape Office (GLO) and the Tree Management Office (TMO). The GLO is responsible for central coordination of Government's greening and landscape planning and design efforts (for more details please enter), while the TMO advocates the adoption of a professional approach to tree management among tree management departments and in the community at large. Each with its focus and priority tasks, the two offices work in close cooperation to promote a holistic greening approach embracing adequate space allocation for new planting, proper selection of planting species as well as quality landscape design and planting practices in the upstream and proper vegetation maintenance in the downstream, with due emphasis on protection of public safety as a priority consideration.

 

Strategy

To achieve the policy targets, we have developed strategies which aim to improve the coordination and effectiveness of greening efforts within the current regime, and to make greening an integral part of future public works projects. We would also encourage private sector and community participation to promote greening. The main initiatives being undertaken are set out below.

Active planting and greening programme

We compile a territory-wide greening programme each year to facilitate planning and monitoring of related progress and outcome. For information on planting records, please enter. This programme covers the following aspects:

• incorporate planting elements into works projects, and increase planting along roadside amenity areas and expressways;
• carry out planting and beautification works at priority sites in the urban areas (e.g. key promenades, public housing estates, footbridges and pedestrian zones);
• provide vegetation on man-made slopes; and
• plant tree seedlings in the countryside.

Enhancing opportunities of quality greening

We will continue to focus our efforts on improving the urban greenery in particular through the implementation of Greening Master Plans (GMPs) and related streetscape improvement in selected urban areas.

Community support and private sector involvement

Apart from government's greenery works, the wide participation of the private sector is also crucial to the success of our greening efforts.

Furthermore, the community plays a significant role in our greening, and tree management work. The Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section will mount a variety of community involvement and public education activities for various target groups to foster an attitude of greening the environment and care for trees across the territory. These activities include roving exhibition, school talks, seminars for the industry, private owners and property management companies, etc.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Home Affairs Department will also step up their publicity programmes to promote greening and tree management and encourage participation by the community in tree planting activities. LCSD will continue to encourage members of the public to assist in monitoring the conditions of trees in the territory through enhanced engagement with the Green Ambassadors, the District Tree Care Volunteers and students, etc., thereby helping Government to carry out its tree management work more effectively.

Standing Policy on Tree Management and Work Focus of Tree Management Office

Government adopts an "integrated approach" for the management of trees on Government land. In essence, the department responsible for the maintenance of an area or a facility is also responsible for the maintenance of trees there. The Task Force on Tree Management led by the Chief Secretary reaffirmed that this approach was generally efficient and cost-effective. It is relevant to note that a similar approach is adopted in Hong Kong's slope safety work with the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department under DEVB playing the policy steer, professional and public education roles. This system has served Hong Kong well.

Under the "integrated approach" for the management of trees on Government land, the department responsible for the maintenance of an area or a facility is also responsible for the maintenance of trees there. Currently, the division of works among major tree management departments are listed below:

• Highways Department which manages trees on roadside man-made slopes/retaining walls and expressways;
• Leisure and Cultural Services Department which manages trees in LCSD venues and landscaped areas along public roads (other than expressways);
• Architectural Services Department which manages trees on man-made slopes maintained by the Department;
• Housing Department which manages trees in public housing estates;
• Water Supplies Department which manages trees within waterworks facilities;
• Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department which manages trees in country parks;
• Drainage Services Department which manages trees within drainage facilities; and
• Lands Department which manages trees on unallocated government land not managed by any other departments.

To ensure more effective implementation across departments of the "integrated approach" to tree management, the TMO acts as a central authority to give policy steer, a focal point of coordination of departmental efforts and a provider of arboricultural expertise.

Work Focus of Tree Management Office

The TMO is tasked to focus on the following key areas of work -

1. enhancement of tree risk management;
2. promotion of a quality-oriented approach to tree management;
3. enhanced training to raise the professional standard of tree management personnel; and
4. enhancement of public education and community involvement.