At least 46 people in Hong Kong were injured when two bottles containing acidic liquids were thrown from a building into a busy commercial district on Saturday, a local newspaper said yesterday.

The incident occurred around 5 pm on Saturday in Kowloon in the special administrative region, which is usually crowded with tourists and shoppers, Wen Wei Po reported yesterday.

The victims, aged between 14 to 53, were all burnt and received injuries to their eyes, heads, faces, hands and feet, when the 750ml bottles exploded after hitting the ground.

Other victims suffered holes in their clothes and backpacks, according to the newspaper.

Twenty of the victims are men. Some of them had to be treated in hospital before being released, a police spokeswoman said.

"After an initial investigation, we've determined two bottles containing a corrosive liquid were dropped from above," said Leona Leung at the Hong Kong Police Department.

"The incident is under investigation. So far nobody has been arrested," she added.

The liquid has been sent to the laboratory, Leung said.

(Shanghai Daily December 15, 2008)