Most of the toy lanterns and light sticks on sale in advance of the Mid-Autumn Festival have passed government safety checks. Of the 13 models of battery-operated lanterns and three light sticks collected by the Customs and Excise Department in 130 spot checks on retailers, 11 lanterns and two sticks passed tests conducted by the government laboratory. The department said yesterday the two lanterns that failed the tests did not carry required instructions on safe battery use and lacked marks showing which way the batteries were to be inserted. Both lanterns and the light stick did not bear the names and addresses of the local manufacturers, importers or suppliers, and one of the lanterns had a plastic bag that posed a suffocation risk to children. Customs served a notice on the retailer of the latter product, prohibiting its sale. Seven of the lanterns had sound-making features, but the laboratory found they complied with European standards. Ng Hing-tong, chief trade controls officer, urged parents to watch out for potential hazards of battery-operated lanterns and light sticks, and not let children aged below three years old play with them unsupervised. The department last year conducted 120 spot checks on various retailers supplying battery-operated toy lanterns and light sticks. Three people were prosecuted for supplying unsafe toy lanterns and light sticks, while 21 suppliers were served with written warnings under the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance. Under the ordinance, it is an offence to manufacture, import or supply a toy unless the product complies with safety standards. To report unsafe toys and children's products, consumers can call the Customs 24-hour hotline on 2545 6182.
