The large solar panel structures, which has bewildered authorities and onlookers alike, were found in mid-March in Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park, according to a spokesperson of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

The island is a protected natural area for recreation and other purposes to the north of Hong Kong International Airport.

Large items of waste including bamboo poles often flow into the park and accumulate there due to various factors like the weather and currents, according to the department.

It’s liaised with another government agency in efforts to identify the panels’ source, including posting a notice.

“No relevant information has been received so far,” the department said, adding arrangements are being made for a contractor to remove the panels this week.

More than 14,000 tons (31 million pounds) of predominantly plastic marine waste was collected annually in the years before the pandemic, according to government data.

Most solar panels end up in landfills after their typical three-decade lifespans end, with most territories including Hong Kong not requiring them to be recycled.