[Expatriate]

There are some rare plants in Hong Kong that are protected because they only grow here and are also threatened with extinction.

However, you are not allowed to grow them and even possession of the seed is illegal.

On the other hand there are invasive plants that drive out native plants but there is no restriction on growing them.

Does this make sense?

[jayinhongkong]

yup. the rare plants have plenty of room to grow in hk's protected areas. no cultivation is allowed there, so they don't have to worry about competing with foreign species.