Hong Kong  - A city-wide manhunt was underway Monday for the attacker who threw bottles of acid onto crowds of year-end shoppers in Hong Kong.

Forty six people suffered burns to their legs, arms and faces when the two bottles of hydrochloric acid were hurled into a busy shopping area in the city's Mongkok district.

All the victims were rushed to hospital where they were treated for mostly minor injuries and burns before being discharged, a police spokesman said.

Police searched high-rise tower blocks overlooking the scene of the attack on Saturday and Sunday but failed to trace the attacker and now fear there may be another attack.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee made a public appeal Monday for anyone with information to contact police immediately.

Emergency workers struggled to reach victims in the chaos around 5 pm Saturday and police later sealed off the area.

Most people in the wealthy former British colony of 6.9 million, live in tower blocks and throwing objects of any kind from high buildings is a criminal offence. (dpa)