In early July, a conservation group released a series of photos showing a trash-blanketed hillside in Wailingding, an island located south of Hong Kong. The rubbish contained debris of wood, plastics, cloth and remains of demolished structures.

Further monitoring revealed the landfill on the island had grown to a gigantic mound, raising doubts over the waste management practices followed in the area. Although the island has not been confirmed as a source of the trash washing up on Hong Kong's shores, such a possibility is not ruled out.

Wailingding is one among the islands forming an archipelago in the Wanshan marine area, under the jurisdiction of Zhuhai in Guangdong province. Its picturesque scenery, with a 300-meter peak, attracts tourists from nearby cities.

The Wanshan government recently released a notice, confirming seasonal winds and ocean currents brought trash floating on the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea, to the coastline of Wailingding Island.

Located in the mouth of the Pearl River Estuary, Wailingding sees a lot of sea traffic, with vessels operated by six shipping lines. The emissions might have added to the pollution on the seashores. Also, the Wanshan marine area is a popular fishing ground, and fishing activities too could have added to the marine pollution, the notice says.

(HK Edition 08/22/2016 page8)