A mysterious mass of 200 solar panels found washed up on the shores of a Hong Kong marine park earlier this month will be cleared this week, authorities have said, after the delayed clean-up sparked concerns over possible water contamination.

But a green group said the discovery of the damaged panels highlighted the need for the city to establish a specialist recycling system because of increased use of the technology.

The panels were found along the shore of the Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park, in the northwestern waters of Hong Kong, in mid-March.