200 solar panels washed up on shores of Hong Kong marine park to be cleared in wake of concerns over possible water contamination
- Mysterious mass was found by group of kayakers on March 19 at Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park in city’s northwestern waters
- Greenpeace campaigner Tom Ng says delayed clean-up of panels a concern as certain types could contain dangerous elements
A mysterious mass of 200 solar panels found washed up on the shores of a Hong Kong marine park earlier this month will be cleared this week, authorities have said, after the delayed clean-up sparked concerns over possible water contamination.
But a green group said the discovery of the damaged panels highlighted the need for the city to establish a specialist recycling system because of increased use of the technology.
The panels were found along the shore of the Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park, in the northwestern waters of Hong Kong, in mid-March.
Steven Ting, 40, told the Post that he and five others were kayaking in the area on March 19 when they came across what they at first thought was discarded bamboo scaffolding near the small island of Sha Chau.
As the group paddled through the marine park they soon discovered the mass of abandoned solar panels washed up along the shoreline.