Government workers disposed of tonnes of dead fish found in a nullah in Tin Shui Wai for the second straight day yesterday.
Legislator Albert Chan Wai-yip described the scene as 'stinking and dirty and filthy' and called on the government to find out what had caused more than 2.5 tonnes of fish to die near Tin Shui Estate.
'The administration has to investigate as soon as possible to find out the reason for the sudden change in water quality and the cause of those dead fish,' said the independent legislator, who represents New Territories West.
Fish and water samples are being tested by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation and Environmental Protection departments. A spokesman for the agriculture department said results should be available next week. The environmental department said it had so far not found toxic substances in the nullah.
Locals said dead fish had been found in the nullah at this time of year in the past and it was suspected they died from the change in temperature at the onset of autumn or because of a sudden deterioration in water quality.
Mr Chan said that while fish had died in the past in the nullah, they had never died in such numbers.
