Worried consumers streamed to pharmacies and to Li Chung Shing Tong to return Po Chai Pills amid a sale ban after the Chinese medicine maker was found to have delayed informing health authorities its pills contained cancer-causing drugs.

Li Chung Shing Tong yesterday apologised to the public and promised a review and, by next week, a report. But some consumers said they no longer trusted its products.

Worse may lie ahead. Secretary for Food and Health Dr York Chow Yat-Ngok said yesterday the government may take legal action against the firm for its failure to report a product recall in January. Deputy director of health Dr Gloria Tam Lai-fun said the company was bound by a licensing requirement to notify the government of such action. 'If we found that it did not do so, we have the right to take action,' she said.

Li Chung Shing Tong apologised in a statement for inconvenience caused by the incident, and admitted there was 'some inadequacy in the reporting mechanism'.

The company said it had set up a committee to review the system, including stepping up quality control.

Li Chung Shing Tong's head office in North Point will remain open during the weekend, and consumers can return their pills there - no receipts needed - for a refund. Consumers can also return the pills to retailers but receipts will be needed for a refund.

One consumer, who recovered HK$30 for returning two 10-bottle packs at the North Point office yesterday, said she would not buy Li Chung Shing Tong products again. 'It used to be a reliable and trustworthy brand. But this time, it did not report to the government. It tried to cover up,' she said.

Po Chai Pills are commonly used as a remedy for the relief of indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

By yesterday, wholesalers had returned 77,000 10-bottle packs and 7,500 capsule packs to the company.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51krrPAyJyjnmdnZYZ4hJZomqimo6q6pr7SZqmerKWnu268zmaaoZmZYr2quMusZKadlJ6wqrrEZqSao5WnerCyxZ6prGWRpbytu8ay