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| Reflections from the Ghost Pine Incident | ||
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Disputes about keeping or removing the Ghost Pine had begun in the
middle of year 2009. Ghost Pine was pointed out having an
inclination and posed a threat of collapse. Felling was therefore
claimed necessary. After assessment by tree experts, Ghost Pine was
proven not having immediate danger, and the Development Bureau even
promised to spend $500,000 on developing proposals for conserving
it. However before the proposal could be published, Ghost Pine had
its roots cluelessly carved in a drainage construction earlier this
year. It became a tree with great danger and was removed on 6th
February.
CA regrets the incident. We neither understand why the management of
the school did not cease the construction, given that the site was
right next to the big tree and might bring damage to it, nor why the
Antiquities and Monuments Office knew nothing about the details of that
construction. We suspect that the incident involved human negligence
and caused the injury of the Ghost Pine. Moreover, even the roots
were carved, both of the two tree assessment reports stated that the
first action should be supporting the tree with steel cables.
Felling was not the only solution. Striking a balance between public
safety and tree conservation, CA thinks that temporary supports
should be added to the tree to stabilise it for further assessment
instead of felling it in a hurry. Sadly, the Development Bureau and
the school gave no proactive considerations on any proposal for
saving the tree, and expressed that felling was the only option.
The Ghost Pine incident just reflected the lack of
tree protection mechanism to secure the trees in Hong Kong,
especially those on private lands. The declared monuments in Hong
Kong are protected by law, but the trees inside monuments are not.
Besides, the Government did not monitor the constructions inside
monument areas and limit the impact to the surroundings well enough.
The Ghost Pine story is just a tip of the iceberg. If the Government
keeps ignoring this issue, trees in Hong Kong will be in a dead end. |
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I sought signatures and support from the
people who walked past under the Ghost Pine. I believe everyone who
signed, or those who were stopped by me and didn’t sign, had taken a
look back on the tree. When they saw its dismemberment on TV news,
and when they saw something missing between the flyover and
Maryknoll, they should at least have a “feeling”. I think it is like
you have met someone else, heard something about him/her, and on the
other day you found the person left this world. You must think:
“What? He/she looked good yesterday…” From day one you get to know
more about trees, you will see them as friends; you worry about
their safety; you wish danger keeps away from them. Dear Ghost Pine,
we will find justice for you and let you rest in peace! |
 The majority of the students supported keeping the Ghost Pine |
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The true meaning of this signature campaign is
not about the tens of sheets of signatures for opposing the felling.
What matters more is the active participation of the students. It
was the most touching to see them run to the entrance at recess and
post the leaflets and slogans they made. In addition to their love
for the tree, the line “No consultation! No Respect!” reflected the
importance of public engagement and higher transparency. About the
drainage construction within the campus, the school didn’t know;
experts provided proposals for remedy, the school didn’t take them.
That could not convince any of the students who respect the school,
and let alone the public.
Trees cannot voice out their thoughts. Their destinies depend on
people. It is believed that the Ghost Pine incident has alarmed the
students who walked under it every single day. We wish that more and
more of us will treat all the trees as living individuals, so that
constructions will be more carefully done, and rescues will rank
before felling. |
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Trees don’t speak, but they spend countless
seasons with us and bring us benefits. They spent ages to mature and
become the big trees today. Without love from the public and a
comprehensive tree protection mechanism they can’t grow healthily.
I’m not an alumna from Maryknoll, and I don’t walk past the Ghost
Pine that often, but I spent an entire day to ask for signatures to
support its conservation. I looked back on Ghost Pine and I knew it
was worth it. Tree conservation does not mean keeping every tree.
Some has to be felled, and some should be saved. Ghost Pine is the
collective memory of many people, and together with the antique red
brick building they mingled as a treescape already. It is definitely
worthwhile for us to save it. Still, because of the poor
administration of the tree conservation policy the big tree was
executed. Although Ghost Pine was dead, the public are more aware of
tree conservation. With the increasing awareness of the people, we
wish the conservation policy can improve. By then the trees will
have a better future and live with us in a perfect harmony. Kami |
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