why can't I pick fruits from trees around HDB estate?

It's mango season again, and lots of mangoes seen hanging from the trees surrounding my HDB estate. A lot of people are wondering why it's illegal to just climb-and-pluck or use a modified pole to harvest the fruits.

My guess is that plucking fruits from trees are prohibited in Singapore probably due to several reasons (as listed below).

1. Food for birds (and fauna) in Singapore. In addition to landscaping and reinforcing-the-soil surrounding HDB estate, fruit trees can be food for birds, insects, bats, and squirrels (if there is anyway, but unfortunately I didn't find one in my estate). Singapore is rich in migratory (as well as local) birds and we are proud of the diversity of birds here.

2. If plucking/harvesting fruits from trees are allowed, then certain quarter of people will take advantage and "mass-harvest" these fruits. There is no stopping people from doing that nor selling these fruits later. It will be bad for local fruit sellers. In addition, fruit trees surrounding HDB belongs to HDB (or the general public if there is no restriction), but a free-for-all rule will be chaotic. Remember that we have "kiasu" (Hokkien meaning "afraid to lose out") culture here and there will surely be people hogging these trees (I'm guessing).

3. HDB liability due to injury from harvesting (or climbing the trees) is not applicable here as the injury sustained would be due to an illegal act, and anyone who wants to proceed with lawsuit against anyone wouldn't bite

Well, although it is illegal to pluck/harvest fruits from these trees, the enforcement is not strict (FYI I've not seen anyone got fined for smoking nonchalantly, and throwing rubbish indiscriminately). It all depended on civic consciousness of the majority who avoided breaking the "no plucking" rule (or plainly following rules). For those who complained about rotting fruits, think of it as natural fertilizer. If it gets really bad, e.g. mass putrefication and smell, just call the town council to clean it up. So far, my rambutan trees with their fallen fruits have not caused any problem. Similarly, the emperor cherry trees with putrefied fruits aren't causing any unpleasant smell. Instead, these trees and their fruits have attracted plenty of insects, butterflies, bats (that fed on insects), birds, and other fauna.

Just a thought.