In a first, dinosaur fossils found in Hong Kong

Experts have discovered dinosaur fossils in Hong Kong for the first time, challenging the traditional belief that finding the remains of ancient organisms in a small city with a history of volcanic activity and complex geology is difficult, local media reported Thursday.

The bone fossils were found on Port Island in the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark on Wednesday, according to the South China Morning Post.

Authorities said the remains will be put on display starting Friday.

The fossils are believed to belong to a large dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, approximately 145 million to 66 million years ago.

However, experts will need to conduct further studies to confirm the dinosaur's species.

Experts speculate that the dinosaur was likely buried by sand and gravel after its death, later washed to the surface by a large flood, and subsequently buried again at the discovery site, according to a government statement.

“The discovery is of great significance and provides new evidence for research on palaeoecology in Hong Kong,” the Post quoted Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho as saying.

Experts noted that Hong Kong's geological characteristics and resource-constrained paleontological efforts might have contributed to the lack of previous discoveries. They expect that more dinosaur fossils could be unearthed in the northeastern part of the city.