Police in Hong Kong are investigating after bottled sports drinks were handed out free to students outside Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground in Wong Tai Sin on Tuesday afternoon, with several students later reporting that they felt unwell.
The incident occurred as students from Maryknoll Secondary School attended an athletic meet at the sports ground. According to police, a parent contacted authorities shortly after 2pm after noticing an unidentified person operating what appeared to be an informal stall outside the venue and distributing bottled beverages to students during their lunch break.
The person had left the area before officers arrived.
Police subsequently collected bottles that students had received and handed them over for examination. Investigators are expected to determine whether the drinks had been contaminated or otherwise interfered with, and whether the reported damage to some bottles is consistent with deliberate tampering.
The investigation has been assigned to the Wong Tai Sin District Criminal Investigation Team for follow up.
Students Raise Alarm Over Suspected Bottle Damage
The incident gained wider attention after a student who attended the sports event described what happened in a social media post.
According to the student's account, a number of students accepted the drinks while leaving the sports ground for lunch. The beverages were being distributed without charge, and there was initially no indication that they posed a risk.
Concerns emerged after students reportedly noticed small marks resembling needle punctures on some of the plastic bottles.
The discovery raised fears among students that an unknown substance could have been introduced into the drinks. The social media account described the situation as alarming and said teachers were informed after the suspected damage was noticed.
Teachers then moved to collect the bottles from students rather than allowing them to continue drinking from the containers.
The account did not establish what caused the marks on the bottles or whether any foreign substance had actually entered the drinks. Those questions are now part of the police investigation.
Police have not publicly confirmed that the bottles were deliberately injected or that any harmful substance was present. Laboratory and forensic examinations will be needed to establish whether the bottles were tampered with and, if so, what occurred.
Police Seize Bottles for Examination
Officers who responded to the report collected bottles that had been distributed to students. The items were taken as potential evidence and will undergo laboratory testing and forensic examination.
Investigators also searched the surrounding area for additional evidence. During the search, they found another discarded plastic bottle in a nearby rubbish bin and seized it for examination.
The additional bottle could help investigators establish whether it came from the same batch of beverages or whether it was unrelated to the incident.
The individual who distributed the drinks was no longer at the sports ground when officers arrived. Police have therefore begun their investigation without the person who allegedly operated the stall being present at the scene.
The case has been classified for further investigation by the Wong Tai Sin District Criminal Investigation Team.
At this stage, authorities have not announced an arrest or identified the person who distributed the beverages.
School Retrieves All Distributed Drinks
Maryknoll Secondary School confirmed that an outside vendor had distributed bottled beverages to students near the sports ground while the athletic meet was taking place.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the school said suspected damage had been found on the plastic packaging of some of the bottles.
Once the concern was identified, school staff told students not to consume the drinks and began retrieving the bottles that had been handed out.
The school's response was aimed at preventing students from drinking any remaining beverages while the circumstances were being examined.
The school also said it was cooperating with police and had informed parents about the incident. Parents were advised to monitor their children for any signs of illness following the incident.
The school did not identify the external vendor in its statement or confirm whether the person who distributed the drinks had any connection with the school or the athletic event.
The distinction is significant because the drinks were reportedly distributed outside the sports ground rather than through the school's own arrangements.
Education Bureau Activates Support Measures
The Education Bureau said it was concerned about the incident and contacted the school to establish what had happened.
According to the bureau, the school activated its crisis management team after the incident. The team was responsible for coordinating the school's response, keeping parents informed and arranging appropriate support for students.
The bureau said it would remain in communication with the school while the police investigation continued and provide advice and resources where necessary.
The response comes as school officials, parents and investigators seek to establish whether the damaged bottles were the result of deliberate interference or another cause.
For students who consumed the drinks and subsequently felt unwell, the immediate concern remains their health. The school has therefore asked parents to pay close attention to their children's condition and to seek medical attention if symptoms require it.
Investigation Must Establish What Happened
The reports of puncture like marks have raised concern among students and parents, but the presence of marks alone does not establish that a substance was injected into the bottles.
Police laboratory and forensic examinations are expected to provide evidence on the condition and contents of the seized drinks. Investigators will also need to establish where the beverages came from, who distributed them, how many students received them and whether the bottles came from a common source.
The discovery of another discarded bottle near the sports ground may also form part of that inquiry.
Until testing is completed, authorities have not confirmed what caused the students' symptoms or whether the beverages were responsible. The school has nevertheless taken the precaution of retrieving the bottles and warning students not to consume them.
The incident also highlights the risks of accepting unverified food or drinks distributed outside school events, particularly when the source and handling of those products cannot be established.
Parents and students who received any of the distributed bottles should follow the school's instructions and provide relevant information to authorities if requested.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the distribution and suspected damage to the bottles. Did your child receive one of the drinks, and have you reported any related concerns to the school or police?