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Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Rita Lau has ordered the Travel Industry Council to submit a report on the enforcement of regulations governing the conduct and services provided by tour guides by the end of September.
The Permanent Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development (Commerce, Industry & Tourism) will monitor the report's progress while the Tourism Commission will assist in its compiling.
Speaking after meeting the council's board members today, Mrs Lau said the council's special task force is investigating the qualifications required for tour guides to be issued licences.
"It is a very important responsibility of the council to continue to enforce the regulatory provisions governing the conduct and the level of services provided by tour guides. There is also the need to look at any enforcement aspects which will facilitate the compliance of any standards required of a tour guide. This will be one of the areas the special task force will be examining in the next two months," she said, adding the Government will examine whether legislation is needed to scrutinise the standard of tour guides.
Mrs Lau said there is also a great concern about the industry's practice of receiving Mainland group tours for free or even paying a sum to the Mainland agent to receive the group. However, she assured the Government will not interfere with the pricing of tour groups, which is a business decision.
She added she will plan a meeting with the industry and the National Tourism Administration Chairman Shao Qiwei in Beijing.
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