Dinosaur fossils discovered for the first time in an area in East Asia

The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has announced that dinosaur fossils have been found on an island near the region.

Researchers inspected the rock on the island Photo: Global Times

The researchers’ discovery took place on Harbor Island, in the UNESCO Global Geopark in Hong Kong. As early as March, this year, it was suspected that the sedimentary rock in that area could have traces of former vertebrates. Thus, with this information the Office of Antiquities and Monuments (AMO) of the HKSAR government began research on the island.

Experts from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences were appointed to the research team. They traveled to conduct field investigations, studying fossil specimens, recommending management plans and discussing future actions.

The researchers determined that the bone fossils likely came from an “old dinosaur” from the Cretaceous period – an era more than 145 million to 66 million years ago that followed the Jurassic period.

Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Development under the HKSAR government, said the discovery is of great importance and provides new evidence for paleoecology research in Hong Kong.

Following the discovery, the Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government and the IVPP also signed a framework agreement on deepening exchanges and collaboration in stratigraphy, paleontology and prehistoric sites for scientific research, but also for specimen management and identification, training and exchanges information in the fields of paleontology, paleoanthropology and paleolithic sites.

Officials announced they will close access to Harbor Island and the park to continue excavation and further research. The dinosaur fossils will also be on public display at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Center from Friday.