HP recalls nearly 80,000 laptop batteries in China

China's quality watchdog said Thursday that US computer maker Hewlett-Packard plans to recall about 78,740 laptop batteries in China for some HP and Compaq laptops as they pose a fire hazard.

The batteries, used in laptops produced between July 2007 and May 2008, could overheat and melt down, possibly sparking a fire, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said.

The company will replace the batteries for free, it said in a statement.

Hewlett-Packard recalled a total of 34,573 laptop batteries in China in May 2009 and May 2010 for the same reason, the watchdog said.