White powder found at US consulate in Hong Kong

HONG KONG — Police in hazmat suits entered the US Consulate General in Hong Kong yesterday after an envelope containing white powder sparked a security alert at the complex.

Visa appointments were cancelled and members of the public queuing to enter were ordered to leave as the consulate scrambled to react to the incident.

Uniformed police officers were also seen donning gas masks outside the building in the busy Central district of the southern Chinese financial hub.

Four police vans and a bomb disposal truck were seen deployed at the sealed-off main entrance.

However, the consulate later said the powder was not found to be hazardous.