NEW YORK (Reuters)- A New York City man who hugged and kissed a tree to avoid paying a fine might have to cough up the money after all. New York newspapers reported on Friday that Manhattan delicatessen owner Daniele Malpeli was given a $1,000 summons for chaining his delivery bicycle to the tree in front of his store, as he has done for years. But Parks Commissioner Henry Stern offered Malpeli amnesty if he would apologise to the 2-1/2 story tall tree and give it a hug. "I hugged the tree 20 times and I kissed it too," Malpeli said. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani however, would have none of it. "This is how we are resolving fines, hugging trees? I think a judge is going to have to resolve this. The parks department said bicycle chains can damage the bark of a tree, making it more susceptible to falling on a passer-by in a storm.