Trees felled during Typhoon Noul raise safety concerns in Hong Kong

Urban forestry expert cites restrictive planting methods for fallen banyan trees at Wan Tau Tong Estate and near Tai Po Mega Mall

The uprooting of numerous trees across Hong Kong during Typhoon Noul last weekend has sparked safety concerns among residents, with an expert warning that restrictive planting methods had left some unable to withstand strong winds.

Two government hotlines received a total of 331 reports of fallen trees during the typhoon, which triggered a No 8 and No 9 signal on Saturday and Sunday. Of the fallen trees, eight were banyan at Wan Tau Tong Estate and another of the same species near Tai Po Mega Mall in Tai Po.

At Wan Tau Tong Estate, residents said the loss of trees that had stood there for more than three decades had left them upset and concerned about the area’s safety.

Leung Po-chu, 65, who has lived in Wan Loi House since 1991, said she had watched the trees grow over the years.

“Could the typhoon really have been powerful enough to bring down so many trees at once?” she said.

“I was very upset to see so many of them fall. This is a route I take to the shopping centre every day. There are so many memories tied to these trees.”