Hong Kong officials say they have discovered dinosaur fossils in the city for the first time, on a remote, uninhabited island.
The fossils were part of a large dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, between 145 and 66 million years ago, the government said in a statement. They will have to carry out more studies to confirm the species of the dinosaur.
The rock was found on Port Island in the UNESCO World Geopark in the city's northeastern waters, and the fossils will be displayed on Friday in one of Hong Kong's shopping districts.
Development Secretary Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said: “The discovery is of great importance and provides new evidence for paleoecology research in Hong Kong.”
Experts speculated that the dinosaur's body was likely buried under enviornment and gravel and then resurfaced as a result of a large flood, and was subsequently reburied at the discovery site, according to the statement.
The discovery came after the conservation department alerted its Office of Antiquities and Monuments in March about a sedimentary rock containing substances suspected of being vertebrate fossils.
The government said it commissioned experts from mainland China to conduct field investigations.
Port Island will be closed to the public from Wednesday until further notice to facilitate future investigations and excavations.
The fossils will be on display at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Center in Tsim Sha Tsui, one of the city's most popular shopping districts, starting Friday. The government also plans to open a temporary workshop for the public to observe the preparation of fossil specimens by experts by the end of 2024.
With associated press
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