Chek Chau

Chek Chau
Native name:
赤洲
Port Island viewed from Wan Tsai.
Chek Chau is located in Hong Kong
Chek Chau
Chek Chau
Geography
Coordinates22°30′04″N 114°21′32″E / 22.501094°N 114.358975°E / 22.501094; 114.358975
Administration
DistrictsTai Po District
Demographics
Population0
Port Island

Port Island or Chek Chau (Chinese: 赤洲) (cek3 zau1) is an island of Hong Kong, under the administration of Tai Po District. It is located in Tolo Channel, in the northeastern New Territories. Its name literally means red island; after the sedimentary rocks rich in iron that form this island. and volcanoes

Dinosaur fossils discovery

On October 23, 2024, the Development Bureau announced that experts discovered dinosaur skeletons fossils in Chek Chau, which was the first time dinosaur fossils were discovered in Hong Kong. According to expert estimates, the fossil belongs to the Cretaceous period, about 145 million to 66 million years ago; the dinosaur may have been buried under sand and gravel after death, then washed out of the surface by floods, and then buried again where it was found fossil location. [1][2][3]

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department later admitted that the fossils were discovered back in 2013 but the department has to prioritize other work and so the fossils were stuck in identification for 11 years.[4]

Conservation

Port Island has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1979 because of its ornithological interest.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Dinosaur fossils - Hong Kong's first discovery of at least 66 million years ago was put on display to the public on October 25. Chizhou Island is temporarily closed". Headline Daily. 2024-10-23. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  2. ^ "Register of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)". Planning Department. Archived from the original on 2023-08-16.
  3. ^ "Site of Special Scientific Interest - Port Island" (PDF). Planning Department. 30 September 1992.
  4. ^ "11年前悉可能有化石 漁署:聚焦迫切工作未即跟進". Ming Pao Canada (in Chinese). 2024-10-27. Retrieved 2024-12-11.