Dinosaur Fossils on Port Island, Hong Kong

Context (IE): Dinosaur fossils from the Cretaceous period have been discovered on Hong Kong’s Port Island for the first time.

Key Details of the Discovery

• Type of Rock: The fossils were located in sedimentary rock that contains substances suspected to be vertebrate fossils.
• Location: Port Island, part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, where this type of discovery is rare.

About Port Island

• Geography: Situated on the middle-to-western side of Mirs Bay (Tai Pang Wan) and lying on the eastern approach of Tolo Channel. The closest neighboring island is Grass Island to its south.
• Local Name: Known as Chek Chau, meaning “Red Island” in Chinese, due to the predominance of reddish-hued rocks.
• Geological Significance: It is among the few places in Hong Kong where rocks formed after the region’s volcanic activity ceased, providing unique insights into post-volcanic geological formations.