Periscope
Imported plants for greening - to cure or to kill?
by Cendyman Liu, Gladys Cheung and Vivian Li
Wedelia, a plant imported by the government for greening in Hong Kong but listed as one of the worst invasive alien species in the world, is spreading and will jeopardise the survival of native vegetation in the territory, lawmaker Albert Chan Waiyip says.
Mr Chan is worried that Wedelia will be like the mile-a-minute weed Mikania blocking the growth of other plants and harming the environment. The concern underlines the debate over the government's importation of alien species and its effectiveness.
The government has imported many other non-indigenous plants in different greening projects, environmental infrastructure, roadside planting, erosion control and the construction of cultural and recreational facilities.
"They should stop importing (Wedelia) and start clearing it," said Mr Chan, who represents the New Territories West geographical constituency.
The legislator has found and photographed massive Wedelia coverage in places near Discovery Bay, and in the areas from Mui Wo to Shap Long and in Wang Tang Village in Lantau Island.
Those locations are not the government-designated
Wedelia planting spots, and that shows the exotic plant is
spreading, Mr Chan said.
Originated from South America, Wedelia can grow quickly even in harsh environments with poor-quality soil. However, it is listed together with Mikania in the "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species" by the World Conservation Union. The plant is reported to be aggressive and can exclude other matting plants from the habitat.
Yet, Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung told the legislature in January last year that there was no sign of Wedelia's spreading or destroying of other plants in Hong Kong.
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