SINGAPORE - An 11-year-old boy who was found wandering along Marina Promenade on Monday night is believed to have been dumped here by his Hong Kong father.

Police said in a statement on Saturday that they have established his identity and are working closely with the Hong Kong Police Force, who have detained a 45-year-old man there who is related to him.

"Investigations are ongoing and arrangements will be made to return the boy to his place of origin as soon as possible," the statement added.

Metro Radio Hong Kong reported on its website that the man is the boy's father and had flown from Hong Kong to Singapore, left the boy behind and travelled back alone two days later.

Officers in Hong Kong received a request from the Singapore Police Force to help locate the boy's relatives there, the report added. The man was arrested on Friday night.

Singapore police found the boy at 8pm on Monday. The next day, they appealed for the boy's next-of-kin to come forward as the boy was unable to provide any details.

He was put under the care of the Ministry of Social and Family Development.