CityUHK expert responds to reported earthquake tremor felt in Hong Kong on 20 February
Following reports of a brief tremor felt by residents in parts of Hong Kong earlier today (20 February), Professor Benjamin Horton, Dean of the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), said such events can occasionally be felt in the city due to regional seismic activity.
“Hong Kong is not located on a major tectonic plate boundary, so strong earthquakes are rare,” said Professor Horton. “However, the city can experience light ground shaking when earthquakes occur in nearby regions, particularly in southern China or offshore areas. These tremors are usually not damaging but can be noticeable to people indoors, especially in high-rise buildings.”
Professor Horton emphasised that reports circulating on social media and messaging platforms should be treated with caution until confirmed by official sources such as the Hong Kong Observatory.
“At this stage, it is important to rely on verified information from authorities,” he said. “Modern seismic networks are very effective at detecting even small earthquakes, and official assessments will clarify when a seismic event occurred, where it was located, and its magnitude.”
Professor Horton also addressed public perceptions that earthquakes may be occurring more frequently.
“There is no evidence that earthquakes affecting Hong Kong are becoming more frequent or more dangerous,” he explained. “What has changed is our ability to detect and measure them. Advances in seismic instruments, denser monitoring networks, and faster reporting mean that smaller earthquakes are now recorded and communicated more effectively than in the past.”
He added that increased awareness should be viewed as a sign of better science and monitoring, not heightened risk.
“As our measurement systems improve, people may hear about more seismic events, but that reflects better data—not a more hazardous environment,” he said.
Professor Horton previously served as Director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, where he led research on earthquakes and geohazards across Asia. His expertise includes seismic risk, earth systems science, and natural hazards in densely populated coastal cities.
“There is no indication at present of any immediate risk to public safety,”Professor Horton added. “Hong Kong’s building standards are very robust, and minor tremors—if confirmed—are not uncommon in many parts of the world and rarely cause damage.”
CityUHK will continue to monitor updates from relevant authorities and stands ready to provide expert commentary as more information becomes available.
Media enquiries:
Venus Doon, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 6377)