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SCMP Reporter

TOP-SELLING health drink Lucozade could be withdrawn from sale in Hong Kong after three Kowloon residents were injured when bottles of the glucose-based energy tonic exploded in their hands.

  The 15-year-old boy and two women in their 20s suffered cuts to their arms and legs, the teenager and one of the women requiring stitches to their wounds.

  Lucozade's parent company, health care giant Smithkline Beecham, has known of the incidents for more than three weeks but has continued to sell existing stocks of the drink.

  The company decided not to advise consumers or relevant government departments of the explosions pending an investigation.

  Smithkline Beecham Hong Kong sales manager Victor Pun said the company had known of the explosions since late July but an inquiry into the cause of the incidents was still continuing.

  ''We have no idea what caused the explosions,'' he said.

  ''The Lucozade is made at our factory in Singapore and they are investigating the incidents.''   Mr Pun could not rule out withdrawing Lucozade from shop shelves but said such action would not be taken until the company's investigation was complete.

 He said the explosions were isolated incidents, with none reported in other markets supplied by the Singapore factory.

 Legislative Councillor Huang Chen-ya branded the company ''irresponsible'' and said if Smithkline Beecham did not immediately withdraw Lucozade from sale in the territory the Government should do so.

  ''Obviously, when you have bottles exploding and glass flying it is potentially a very dangerous situation,'' he said.

  Mr Pun believed the company had acted responsibly in its handling of the matter and said Smithkline Beecham was discussing ''the needs of these consumers'' with the victims.

  He refused to say whether victims would be compensated.

      ''Sales is not our primary concern. We put the safety of our customers before anything else,'' he said.



Exploding bottles may be withdrawn