Abstract

W. W.-S. Yim, A. M. S. F. Choy, A. M. Davis & G. Huang write: Fyfe et al. 1997 have provided a sequence stratigraphical interpretation of the Quaternary inner shelf sediments of Hong Kong based on the study of high-resolution seismic- reflection profiles and continuously sampled boreholes. These authors claimed that the sequence is no older than Oxygen- isotope stage 6. Furthermore by using terms including Eemian and Weichselian, they implied that direct correlation with the European sequence was possible. It may be useful, however, to examine the broader implications of their stratigraphy as a test of its validity.

Very few ‘stable’ siliciclastic-dominated shelves in the world possess the amount of offshore engineering site investigation data like Hong Kong (see for example Pinches 1996). Because of this, Hong Kong is one of the best areas in the world for studying the Quaternary sequence on the inner shelf. Fyfe et al. 1997 considered the Chek Lap Kok Formation which is up to over 80 m in thickness to be Middle to Upper Pleistocene (stage 6); the Sham Wat Formation which is up to over 50 m in thickness to be Eemian (stage 5e); the Waglan Formation which is up to 13 m in thickness to be Weichselian (stage 5c) and the Hang Hau Formation which is up to 60 m in thickness to be Holocene/last glacial (stages 1 and 2). The above conclusions have important consequences on shelf sedimen- tation and continental erosional rates. There are at least five problems