Question No. 1
Reply by the Hon. E.P. Ho, CBE, JP,
Secretary for Trade and Industry
to a question by the Hon. Lydia Dunn, CBE, LLD, JP
in Legislative Council on 13 March 1985
Question :
Is the Government aware that officials of the United States Consulate have been visiting Hong Kong factories requesting to inspect documents related to export consignments for the USA? If so, would the Government say what legal powers give them these rights of entry and inspection?
Sir,
The Government is aware that a member of the
US Customs Service has recently visited some Hong Kong
factories, by appointment, requesting to see documents
and production records relating to certain apparel
consignments for the USA.
2.
US Government officials have no authority
under Hong Kong law to enter any factory or office in
Hong Kong without its owner's permission or to demand to
inspect its documents.
Managements are not obliged to
receive such visitors or to provide any information
against their will.
However, in the cases which have
come to notice the managements concerned willingly received
the visitors and voluntarily provided the information or
clarification sought.