Supplementary to LegCo Question No. 1
in Legislative Council on 13th March 1985
1KM 01119
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 1 MAR 1985
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
Miss Dunn:- Sir, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that the
average factory owner doesn't distinguish between one official
from the next, that they allow access to confidential documents
by American officials in these cases in the belief that these
inspections are lawful, and that refusal may lead to their
consignments not being allowed to enter the United States?
Secretary for Trade and Industry:- It is possible, Sir, that
factory owners may indeed believe that there is an element of
legality in the approaches by any visitor but the fact remains
that the U.S. officials in Hong Kong have no such rights under
our law.
Miss Dunn:- Do the American authorities claim any right to
refuse shipments to enter the United States as a result of these
inspections and has the Government any knowledge whether any
consignment has been detained?
Secretary for Trade and Industry:- Sir, I am not aware of any
consignments having been detained arising from enquiries made
as a result of these inspections but it is a fact that certain
knitwear shipments from Hong Kong were detained by US customs
pursuant to their adoption of their new rules and the subject of
which was the basis of our complaint to the textile surveillance
body in Geneva leading to a recommendations in our favour by the
body.
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