First sighting of humpback whale in Hong Kong

A humpback whale has been spotted in Hong Kong waters, a government spokesman said Wednesday, in the first reported sighting of the giant mammal off the southern Chinese city.The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said it received a report on Monday that a 10 metre (33 feet) whale was seen swimming in the East Lamma Channel, a busy sea channel to the west of Hong Kong Island."It is the first time we have seen a humpback whale in Hong Kong waters," the spokeswoman told AFP.The department has been monitoring the condition of the whale, along with the Marine Police and experts from Ocean Park, a city themepark and conservation centre."From our observations so far, its health condition is normal and it is active," she said.The spokeswoman said it was unlikely the whale would stay long in waters near the city because of the busy sea traffic that flows to and from the major port.Humpbacks are found in oceans and seas around the world, but especially in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.