Crime against trees

One of the things I like about Singapore is that even if it's hot and humid, the sight of trees in its roads is a pleasant sight. Planners there know that development must not be achieved at the expense of the environment.

In Hong Kong, you seldom see trees in the downtown. Unless you venture into the forested areas, trees appear not within Hong Kong's plans.

A 200-metre section of pavement on Austin Road West, outside the construction site of the West Kowloon Station of the future MTR Kowloon Southern Link once had trees. But about a hundred of them are now gone after a report from South China Morning Post captured photo of what has been the aftermath of the cutting of these trees. I wonder if trees were spared and were considered to complement the West Kowloon development.

I guess HK authorities don't exactly have same plans as Singaporeans. Trees may be young and its benefits aren't as big as we would expect on a fully grown ones. But Hong Kong's pollution problems, they are part of the solution.

Earlier this month, a decades-old Royal Poinciana, also known as flame of the forest, which had stood in a corner of a car park in Mong Kok Police Station, was cut down, sparking an uproar from green groups and some nearby residents.

Now I am thinking if HK Love Trees' efforts are ignored by contractors whose eyes only see $$.

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