Police find no toxins in Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground drinks

23rd September 2026 – (Hong Kong) Police say laboratory tests found no chemical toxins or foreign liquid in sports drinks handed out at Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground, and that “leaking” bottles were explained by ice water trapped in tiny holes along eco-friendly label tear lines rather than needle sabotage.

A secondary school from the Sau Mau Ping area held its sports day at the Wong Tai Sin venue on Tuesday. At about noon, a Hong Kong company ran a free sports-drink promotion outside the ground for students and members of the public. Some pupils later reported vomiting and feeling unwell, while others suspected plastic bottles had been pierced and were seeping. The school called police and the case went to the East Kowloon Regional Crime Unit.

Sixteen students — 11 girls and five boys aged 12 to 17 — reported symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness, sought hospital care and were discharged the same day without signs of poisoning. Officers examined the company’s storage, transport and distribution chain and were told it had run similar promotions without prior incidents. About 400 bottles were given out that day. Samples sent to the Government Laboratory for physical checks showed no evidence of deliberate bottle damage or intentional punctures, Senior Superintendent Hung Ngai of East Kowloon Regional Headquarters (Crime) said today.

Toxicology tests likewise found nothing abnormal or poisonous and no sign of liquid injected from outside. Hung demonstrated how the packaging uses two perforated tear lines of fine holes so labels can be peeled off for recycling. Before distribution the bottles had been kept in ice water, which collected between the plastic and the label; squeezing a bottle could force that trapped water out through the tear-line gaps, creating the look of a seep or spray.

He said student illness could have several causes and that police would speak with teachers and pupils about health, whether unclean food was eaten and whether the ice tubs were hygienic. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said it had not received related food complaints or a mass food-poisoning notification but had contacted other departments and would assist as needed. The drinks’ Hong Kong general agent said it was monitoring the police inquiry and would speak further when more was known.