Ombudsman To Probe Bonham Road Tree Chopping

The Ombudsman announced on Monday that it will investigate if there was any administrative wrongdoing in the government's decision to chop down two banyan trees in Sai Ying Pun.

The downing of the 80-year-old banyan trees on Bonham Road outside the University of Hong Kong had sparked a standoff between conservationists and government staff and generated widespread media coverage last month.

The Lands Department insisted on removing the banyans, citing their risks of falling on pedestrians, with one of them having a fungal infection.

But critics accused the government of not taking enough care of the trees and made the decision without properly consulting experts.

The Ombudsman said it will investigate whether the Lands Department, the Home Affairs Department and the Tree Management Office had followed all relevant polices and procedures.