TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 118

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.