HONG KONG, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong police have seized a large number of lethal weapons including a rifle and bombs that could be used in public events and cause casualties.

Weapons and dangerous goods seized by the police were of a great variety and extremely alarming in terms of both power and quantity, John Lee, Secretary for Security of the government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said Wednesday when answering a question of the Legislative Council.

-- On July 20, the police found self-produced powerful explosives of TATP, 10 completed incendiary bombs and other dangerous chemicals in Tsuen Wan. The power of the explosives could cause severe injuries.

-- On August 1, the police found two bows, six arrows, petrol bombs and a large number of raw materials for making petrol bombs in Fo Tan.

-- In mid-November and early December, police seized a total of about 8,000 petrol bombs, about 800 bottled liquefied petroleum gas, about 1,000 bottles of petrol and nearly 700 bottles of inflammable chemicals at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

-- On December 8, the police seized a 9 mm Glock semi-automatic handgun, 105 bullets and five magazines in North Point, as well as three items of dagger, saber and katana. Three of the five magazines seized were fully loaded and ready for use.

-- Also on December 8, the police found two radio-controlled improvised explosive devices weighing about 10 kilograms in total in the vicinity of Wah Yan College in Wan Chai. Ignition of the bombs will pose lethal damage to the surrounding range of 50 to 100 meters and lead to the collapse of buildings. The bombs also contained many sharp nails for greater lethality.

-- On December 20, the police seized an AR-15 long-range rifle, 200 bullets and a circular speedloader in a flat. A man was arrested in Tai Po, who fired a shot during the operation of police.

Lee stressed that illegal possession or use of weapons and dangerous goods constitute very serious crimes, with the maximum penalty up to life imprisonment. "The police will make full investigation into each case to track the source of weapons, firearms, explosives and chemicals seized and the motive for committing crimes."