Police To Dispose Of WWII-era Naval Bomb

Police said they will dispose of a naval mine from World War II in the eastern waters of Hong Kong Island on Friday.

Officers said they found the mine 1.4 kilometres off Cape D'Aguilar near Shek O after receiving a report from a diver last month, adding it is the first time a complete naval mine has been found in the territory.

Suryanto Chin-chiu, an acting senior bomb disposal officer, said while the naval mine should not pose any imminent danger, the 500-pound TNT explosives it contain might still work.

"The naval mine has been placed at the bottom of the sea for more than 70 years... There are shells on its surface, which has been corroded by sea water," he said.

"Although the naval mine, after all these years in the sea, would not pose any immediate danger to people and boats... it is in a sound condition and we cannot rule out the explosives inside still work."

The force said the Cape D'Aguilar area is off-limits for visitors and boats from Thursday, but people who live or work there will not be evacuated.

Officers said they are deploying 500 officers in the operation, which should be complete by Friday afternoon.