The Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) might have exceeded its authority in forcing the relocation of 10 old trees in northern Taipa, lawmaker Ron Lam expressed in his latest written inquiry.
In the same inquiry, he also urged the government to retain the trees in their current location.
Last week, the Urban Planning Committee held its plenary for this month. The planning on a road in northern Taipa where the 10 trees are located was discussed. During the discussion, a representative from the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) emphasized the difficulty in keeping the trees alive while relocating them.
However, the DSSOPT representative insisted that they can and should be relocated because the road is of major public interest.
Lam pointed out that according to the Cultural Heritage Protection Law, which codifies the protection of mature trees, relocating old trees is within the authority of IAM. The existence of major public interest, an exception listed in the law, should be determined by IAM.
As such, it is not within the DSSOPT’s authority in deciding on the public interest factor.
The lawmaker has called on the government to better protect mature trees by retaining these 10 trees as there are specific laws to protect local trees. AL
