The Leisure & Cultural Services Department removed an 18-metre tall Celtis sinensis tree on a slope in Kowloon Park Drive Children's Playground today to safeguard public safety.

Detailed re-inspections on October 7 showed the tree had its vascular bundles blocked, affecting the transportation of nutrition and water and causing it to deteriorate rapidly. It also suffered from termite attack and had the potential to collapse.

The tree was listed on the Register of Old & Valuable Trees with the registration number LCSD YTM/56.

A professional pest-control agent will be invited to check if there is any sign of termites in the trees on Haiphong Road. The department's tree team will continue to monitor the condition of the trees in the area.