Mainland discoveries

Since then, he has undertaken numerous research trips to the mainland and collaborated with colleagues in the search and study of dinosaurs. Among his expeditions are visits to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and Hebei, Liaoning, Anhui, Sichuan, and Guangdong provinces. On his travels, Pittman has taken part in various projects alongside his mainland counterparts, including the unearthing of a new dromaeosaurid, a type of feathered raptor, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

As a professor, he has also guided students from Hong Kong on numerous trips to the mainland to observe dinosaur specimens and have exchanges with mainland scholars.

His students are from diverse backgrounds and countries, including Italy and Argentina, with many of them drawn to Hong Kong for the sole purpose of studying dinosaurs.

Pittman said he was not surprised by the fossil finds on Port Island, as its sedimentary rock layers are where such discoveries are often made. The discovery of numerous dinosaur fossils in neighboring Guangdong had also convinced him that it was only a matter of time before similar ones were found in Hong Kong.

Both he and his students were thrilled by the Port Island discovery. He believes it will not only raise awareness in Hong Kong about dinosaur fossils, but also boost academic research, which will negate the necessity for researchers to travel elsewhere to view specimens.

With the city now housing its own fossils, he hopes experts can be developed to work in dinosaur excavation, potentially opening up a new branch of academic research in the metropolis.

Apart from the positive academic outcomes, he believes the discovery also presents new commercial opportunities for the city. Industries such as tourism can benefit from the discovery due to the global interest in dinosaurs, Pittman said, as he urged Hong Kong tour operators to seize this opportunity. For example, ideas such as setting up small dinosaur-themed museums in places like geological park could be explored, he said.

Japan's Fukui City, for example, has leveraged its fossils, by building a dinosaur-themed museum and plaza, setting up photo opportunity spots for tourists, and developing a range of dinosaur-related products, including coffee.