Police last night classified the discovery at the General Post Office in Central of an unidentified but harmless powder in letters addressed to businesses in the area a case of criminal intimidation.
Hongkong Post said one of its mail processing workers on the fourth floor of the building alerted his supervisor when he discovered white powder leaking from a letter at about 10am yesterday. When further checks by postal workers revealed the presence of the powder in 29 letters, emergency services were called.
Police, firemen wearing protective suits and hazardous-materials teams removed the letters.
There were no reports of injury, and no evacuation of the building was necessary.
Police said onsite tests found the powder was harmless. The powder was sent to the government laboratory for further tests.
Police initially classified the case as 'suspicious objects found' but late last night reclassified it as criminal intimidation.
