Trees on Ho Chung River bank cut down regardless of protests

10 February 2021 rsbradbeer ENVIRONMENT 0

^{The Ho Chung River bank in its pristine state Photos: Janice Baird}

On 1 February BUZZ reported on the imminent destruction of trees and other wildlife habitats along the banks of the Ho Chung River adjacent to the old Sai Kung Central primary School. The site was being refurbished for Haven of Hope charity to move in and convert the site to a facility for the severely mentally handicapped.

BUZZ has now learned that, even after intervention by noted local ecologists, the charity refused to stop the planned destruction, and it went ahead over the past two days.

^{The river bank before cutting of trees}

^{The river bank after}

Local activists are sad and angry at what has happened. They obtained an independent assessment of the trees by respected ecologists, consulted ornithologists and sent photos of the birds to Haven of Hope Christian Services.

As one local resident put it, “None of it mattered. They cut down the trees anyway. My four year old son keeps asking me “Why did they cut down the trees, Mummy?” and “Will the birds be okay?” I don’t know what to tell him, so I give him a hug instead.

“We woke this morning and the birds were all gone. We don’t know if they will ever come back”.