Environmental workers have succeeded in containing an oil spill at a port in southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, according to the local maritime affairs bureau.

The spill occurred early on Sunday near the No.3 dock at the Yantian port area bordering Hong Kong.

The oil had created a 40,000-square-meter slick, said Wang Shengming, a senior official with the Shenzhen Maritime Affairs Bureau.

The bureau said 32 ships and 220 workers were mobilized for the 32-hour clean-up operation and over 10 tons of oil-absorbent materials were used to contain the spill.

To date, more than 27 tons of oil has been cleared.

The pollution had threatened the neighboring Dameisha tourist resort, but this risk is now under control, according to the bureau.

The bureau also said it was still investigating the cause of the spill.

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2006)