Hong Kong - A woman police detective was under investigation Thursday after leaving bullets for her service revolver on the back seat of a taxi in Hong Kong.

Twelve rounds of ammunition and a speed-loader used to carry extra rounds of bullets were handed in at the city's Mongkok police station by a taxi driver who found them in the back of his cab.

The detective was unwell at the time she caught the taxi and was still sick before she got out, leaving the ammunition and speed-loader behind, the government-run RTHK radio station said.

A police spokesman said disciplinary action would be taken against the detective if she was found to have breached guidelines relating to the issuing of firearms.

Hong Kong's 27,000 police officers carry handguns on routine patrols around the city of 6.9 million which has relatively low crime levels and a reputation for its safe streets. (dpa)