For the first time in history, dinosaur fossils have been discovered in Hong Kong, marking a monumental moment for the region’s paleontological record. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced on Wednesday that these significant findings were unearthed on Port Island, part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark located in the northeastern waters of the city.
The discovery was set in motion in March when the Antiquities and Monuments Office of the HKSAR government received reports that sedimentary rocks on Port Island might contain suspected vertebrate fossils. Recognizing the potential importance of these findings, the Development Bureau of the HKSAR government commissioned experts from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to conduct a thorough investigation.
After meticulous fieldwork and study of the fossil specimens, the experts confirmed that the fossils date back to the Cretaceous period, approximately 145 million to 66 million years ago. This era is known for its rich diversity of dinosaur species, making the discovery particularly significant for understanding the prehistoric ecology of the region.
“This discovery is of great significance and provides new evidence for research on palaeoecology in Hong Kong,” said Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Development of the HKSAR government. “It opens a new chapter in our understanding of the region’s geological history.”
The follow-up research on these dinosaur fossils represents the first cooperative project under a new agreement between Hong Kong and the mainland. On Wednesday, the Development Bureau of the HKSAR government and the IVPP signed the Framework Agreement on Deepening Exchange and Collaboration regarding Stratigraphy, Palaeontology and Prehistoric Sites. This agreement aims to foster scientific research, specimen management and identification, training, and exchanges in the fields of palaeontology, palaeoanthropology, and Paleolithic sites.
The collaboration is expected to enhance the scientific community’s understanding of the prehistoric era and promote further discoveries. Residents and visitors alike can anticipate future exhibitions and educational programs that will showcase these remarkable fossils and highlight Hong Kong’s newly discovered window into the distant past.
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Million-year-old dinosaur fossils found in Hong Kong for first time
cgtn.com
