HC Deb 22 February 1956 vol 549 c36W
65. Mr. S. O. Davies

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by what authority United States consular personnel in Hong Kong were permitted to search business establishments operated by Chinese residents, and to shadow and investigate them.

Mr. Hare

United States officials in Hong Kong have no authority to search business establishments or to interrogate businessmen.

66. Mr. S. O. Davies

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why United States consular personnel were allowed to search Chinese residents in Hong Kong, and to enter the senior department of the Nam Wah Middle School and to subject forcibly a girl student to a detailed search and a long interrogation about herself and her family.

Mr. Hare

United States Consular officials are not authorised to search Chinese residents in Hong Kong. As regards the incident to which the hon. Member's question evidently refers, I understand that, with the permission of the headmaster, officials of the Consulate-General asked a girl in the Nam Wah Middle School to establish her identity in connection with a passport inquiry. As soon as they realised that it was a case of mistaken identity, they apologised and withdrew.