Parents should pay attention to the potential hazards of festive toys and take heed of the bilingual choking hazard warnings and the battery usage instructions on toys, Customs staff warn.

These toys include latex balloons, party toy sets, remote control figures, toy helicopters, magic drawing boards and battery-operated toys.

Flat or burst balloons, if swallowed, may be a choking hazard to children under eight, while remote control figures, toy helicopters and magic drawing boards may have sharp points that could cut children.

Incorrect use of batteries in toys may cause burning due to batteries overheating, and plastic bags used for packaging may cause suffocation if young children pull them over their heads.

9 samples fail to meet requirements

The department conducted 87 spot checks on the safety of Christmas toys at toy suppliers. Thirteen toy samples were sent to the Government Laboratory for safety tests.

Of them, nine samples fail to comply with the requirements of choking hazard warnings, markings to show correct battery polarity and voltage, identification markings under the Toys & Children's Products Safety Ordinance and Regulation, though no structural defects were found.

Customs staff appeal to members of the public to call hotline 2545 6182 to report suspected unsafe toys or children's products.

* Look for labels that give age recommendations when choosing toys;

* Read and follow all instructions on the toys;

* Keep small balls and marbles out of a child's reach since they are particularly dangerous to children under three;

* Tiny toys and toys with small, removable parts may be swallowed and inhaled, or choke a child to death;

* Keep deflated balloons away from children and discard burst balloons at once as children under eight can choke on them;

* Batteries in toys should be properly installed and not accessible to a child;

* Don't mix old batteries with new ones, or alkaline with carbon-zinc batteries, or rechargeable with non-rechargeable batteries;

* Dispose of all unused plastic bags from toy packaging, as they may suffocate young children; and

* Pay attention to the instructions of toys that require direct adult supervision, and those with sharp points or cutting edges.

3 companies charged, 210 suppliers warned

In the past year, Customs staff conducted 1,039 spot checks on toys safety. They found 25 toys that did not have the required choking hazard warnings, safe battery use instructions, identification markings and bilingual safety warnings.

These items include a party toy set, toy rocket, figurine toy, stuffed toy, flotation toy, yo-yo ball, magic drawing board, water gun, toy jewellery, toy meal set, battery-operated toy lantern and light stick, and Halloween toys.

Customs staff found colour paint on a a mask and a whistle in a party toy set had lead content of 620mg/kg and 300mg/kg, exceeding the safety standard of 250mg/kg.