30 more dinosaur fossils found on island in Hong Kong

Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)

About 30 more rocks with dinosaur fossils have been found on an island off the northern part of Hong Kong. The fossils were unearthed only two months after the first such discovery.

Port Island, where the fossils were found, reopened to the public earlier this month. The government warned visitors against searching the area due to safety concerns.

Under local rules, unauthorised people cannot dig up things from ancient times. Anyone who discovers or knows of such items must report it to the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO).

Those found guilty of not doing so face a maximum of six months in prison and a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,400).

A Development Bureau spokesman said experts from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences had unearthed about 30 rocks with dinosaur fossils since late October.

“The actual quantity of dinosaur fossils could only be confirmed after the fossil preparation was completed,” he said.

The team of experts, alongside the city’s AMO and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, will work on preparing the fossils and identifying the type of dinosaur found on Port Island.

They will also look into Hong Kong’s past ecosystems.

Quiz time

1. Where have rocks with dinosaur fossils been discovered?

2. What has the government asked members of the public to avoid doing?

3. What are the local rules about digging up things from ancient times?

4. What are experts and the government going to do?

Experts have unearthed more than 30 fossils from Port Island. Photo: Handout

Suggested answers

1. Port Island

2. not to carry out searches for fossils

3. unauthorised people cannot dig up things from ancient times

4. prepare the fossils and identify the type of dinosaur found