Police in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, have detained five employees of a cosmetic-surgery hospital for attacking Hong Kong journalists investigating medical disputes over a breast enlargement gel.

On Monday evening police were called to the hospital after receiving a report a journalist had been beaten and robbed at the Shenzhen Fuhua Plastic and Aesthetic Hospital, according to a Xinhua news agency report yesterday.

Employees had refused a request by the reporter, from a Hong Kong television station, to interview employees and film the hospital, which is the subject of several lawsuits over its use of a controversial liquid in breast-augmentation surgery.

On Tuesday, police were again called to the hospital after further reports journalists were being attacked by employees.

A task force set up to investigate the incidents alleged that Cao Mengchao, 56, a vice president of the hospital, and another four hospital employees were behind the attacks.

The police detained the five men and Shenzhen health authorities have sealed the scene to preserve evidence.

The incident also came to the attention of the city government.

Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng asked the authorities to guarantee reporters' right to conduct interviews.

The government press office promised to keep the public informed about the progress of investigation.

Fuhua hospital is currently involved in a raft of lawsuits.

Fuhua hospital used a breast-enlarging liquid known as PAAG in breast augmentation surgery. But the liquid was found to cause complications.

After receiving many complaints, the State Food and Drug Administration held a public hearing and ordered to ban the use of the liquid at the end of last month.

Editor: Yan