BEIJING, June 15 (Reuters) - China, criticised at home and abroad for a string of food and drug safety scandals, has urged Hong Kong to resume sales of toothpaste which customs officials in the territory said were tainted.

China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said it was closely watching the recall of the three brands of toothpaste which Hong Kong said this week tainted by diethylene glycol, an industrial solvent. It said the levels were safe.

"China's quality control watchdog expressed the hope that Hong Kong would resume sales of three brands of home-made toothpaste which were allegedly tainted by diethylene glycol," Xinhua news agency said late on Thursday.

Panama says at least 100 people died after taking cough syrup which contained diethylene glycol rather than the glycerine which was supposed to have been used.

Hong Kong Customs advised consumers on Monday not to buy or use the three brands of toothpaste -- MAXAM Toothpaste with Fluoride, SANQI and Tianqi -- after tests found that they contained unhealthy amounts of diethylene glycol.

Hong Kong on July 1 celebrates 10 years since its return from British to Chinese rule under which it enjoys a high degree of autonomy from Beijing under its "once country, two systems" formula.

China blamed the media lat week for stoking fears about the safety of its food and drugs, but senior officials acknowledged that it was not realistic to expect a 100 percent quality guarantee.

They were reacting to a series of scandals that have plagued Chinese products, from the poisoned cough syrup in Panama to tainted pet food in the United States, and shaken global confidence in the made-in-China label.

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