Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Raistlin Lau said the Mainland inbound tour groups that visited Hong Kong during the Labour Day Golden Week were in good order.

Mr Lau made the statement while answering a lawmaker’s questions at the Legislative Council meeting today and noted that the Travel Industry Ordinance was implemented in full on September 1, 2022 to strike a severe blow to some malpractice in the past, thereby eliminating the "zero-fare" Mainland inbound tour groups.

He further explained that the Travel Industry Authority (TIA), which is responsible for the licensing and regulation of travel agents, tourist guides and tour escorts, so far has not received any complaints related to coerced shopping nor discovered any "zero-fare" Mainland inbound tour groups since the new regulatory regime came into effect.

As for some recent news reports concerning tour groups to Hong Kong flaunting low prices have emerged on the Mainland and that some tour escorts were suspected of asking tour members to assist in smuggling illicit cigarettes, Mr Lau said the TIA is collecting relevant information and conducting an investigation.

If illegal or non-compliant behaviour is found, the TIA will follow up on prosecution and disciplinary action against the relevant travel agent and tourist guide and maintain communication with other relevant law enforcement agencies according to the circumstances of the case, he added.

Regarding the Labour Day Golden Week, the TIA received a total of 453 Mainland inbound tour groups registration, involving about 14,000 tourists for the period between April 29 and May 3.

Mr Lau pointed out that the TIA implemented a series of measures including requesting travel agents receiving relevant tour groups to stagger arrival times as far as possible.

Moreover, travel agents were urged, together with shops and restaurants which receive tour groups, to strengthen management measures in order to reduce the impact of tourism activities of tour groups brought to the district.

The TIA also deployed additional manpower to conduct inspections in places frequently visited by Mainland inbound tour groups.

Apart from emphasising that the Mainland inbound tour groups that visited Hong Kong during the Labour Day Golden Week were in good order, Mr Lau said the traffic, order and operation of tourist areas and control points remained smooth.