Cap. 403 Art. 31Right of entry to obtain information and documents.

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of the Companies Act, relating to the entry and search of premises, any officer, employee or agent of the competent authority, on producing, if required, evidence of his authority, may enter premises occupied by a person on whom a notice has been served under article 29 or whose affairs are being investigated under article 30, for the purpose of obtaining there the information or documents required by that notice, or otherwise for the purpose of the examination, and of exercising any of the powers conferred by the said articles.

(2) Where any officer, employee or agent of the competent authority has reasonable cause to believe that if such notice as is referred to in sub-article (1) were served it would not be complied with or that any documents to which it could relate would be removed, tampered with or destroyed, such person may, on producing evidence of his authority, enter any premises referred to in sub-article (1) for the purpose of obtaining there any information or documents specified in the notice, being information or documents that could have been required under such notice as is referred to in sub-article (1).

(3) For the purposes of any action taken under the provisions of this article, the competent authority may request the assistance of the Commissioner of Police, who may for such purpose exercise such powers as are vested in him for the prevention of offences and the enforcement of law and order:

Provided that, where an entry as is mentioned in this article involves premises that are occupied for the purpose of habitation, such entry shall be carried out in the presence of an officer of the Police of a rank not below that of inspector and shall moreover not take place between nine in the evening and five in the morning.