【明報專訊】ABOUT 150 tonnes of polypropylene pellets have spilled into the waters of Hong Kong. The pellets were being shipped from Guangzhou to Shantou in six containers when the containers were blown into the sea on July 23 by the signal 10 typhoon. The next day, the Marine Department received reports that two containers were sighted floating off Lamma Island. The department got in touch with the shipping company, and was informed that the six containers carried a total of 150 tonnes of polypropylene pellets. On July 26, the department received reports that there were plastic pellets washed ashore on the beaches from Mui Wo to Discovery Bay. Then, Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing and Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man learned of the matter on July 31 and August 1 respectively. However, no public announcement was made by the government, and the public did not know anything about it till August 3, when on their social networking sites conservation groups in Discovery Bay called for a clean-up operation.