White powder sent to Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam and two top officials on Thursday was “flour,” local media reported citing sources. No one has been arrested over the case so far.
Local media reported that Lam, Secretary for Security John Lee and police chief Chris Tang received mail filled with powder. Police told HKFP on Friday that there were reports of “suspicious letters” at Wan Chai Arsenal Street – where the force is based – and Tim Mei Avenue – where the government headquarters is located.
“After an inspection by personnel from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, it is believed that the powder did not contain dangerous substances,” police said.
Sources told local media that the powder in question was “flour.” Following preliminary investigations, police listed the incident as a discovery of suspicious objects and the Central District crime unit would follow up on the case.
The force said no one was injured and there was no need to evacuate people. Police have yet to make an arrest.
Water-soluble powder
According to local media, a clerk at the police headquarters found a letter addressed to Tang at around 10 a.m. on Thursday. The letter contained a page with Chinese characters written on them, but the meaning was unclear and did not contain threatening messages. The paper was said to contain water-soluble powder.
The two other letters sent to the city’s leader and the security minister featured the same content, media reports stated.
Thursday marked Lam’s 64th birthday.
Last April, a home-made bomb was delivered to the police commissioner in an envelope. The force condemned the case as a blatant challenge to a law enforcement agency and said the device could have injured a person’s face and eyes if anyone had opened it.
