WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1982
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NEED TO PROTECT HKTA EMBLEM STRESSED
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THE COMPULSORY GOLD MARKING SCHEME INTRODUCED BY THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION LAST JANUARY FOR ITS MEMBERS IS THE ONLY SCHEME OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD FOR ENSURING THE QUALITY OF GOLD JEWELLERY SOLD TO TOURISTS, THE HON PETER C. WONG SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WEDNESDAY).
IT WAS THEREFORE IMPORTANT THAT THE ASSOCIATION'S WELL-KNOWN EMBLEM IN THE FORM OF A RED CHINESE JUNK BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED, BY AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTY FOR INFRINGEMENT, MR WONG SAID IN SUPPORTING THE MOTION FOR THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, WHICH WAS PASSED TODAY.
DEALING WITH ANOTHER POINT. HE SAID SECTION 4(B) OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE READS TO FURTHER THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLONY AS A HOLIDAY RESORT+.
THE BILL PROPOSED TO CHANGE +HOLIDAY RESORT+ IN THE SECTION TO +TOURIST DESTINATION+, AN EXPRESSION MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTING THE ROLE THE ASSOCIATION WAS EXPECTED TO PLAY, MR WONG SAID,
HE REPORTED THAT TOURISM RECEIPTS TOTALLED 38.1 BILLION LAST YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 13.7 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
+WE OWE MUCH TO THE SPLENDID WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE ASSOCIATION TO ATTRACT MORE TOURISTS, AND HENCE MORE FINANCIAL AND OTHER BENEFITS, AND TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF HONG KONG, MR WONG STATED.
CURRENTLY, THE ASSOCIATION OPERATES SOME 13 OVERSEAS OFFICES IN JAPAN, SOUTH-EAST ASIA, THE AMERICAS, BRITAIN, WEST GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.
+I HAVE VISITED MOST OF THESE OFFICES, AND IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT CREDIT MUST BE GIVEN TO THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE VERY SUCCESSFUL PROMOTION WORK BEING DONE BY THESE OVERSEAS OFFICES; WHICH MAINTAIN CLOSE LIAISON WITH OUR TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OVERSEAS OFFICES, + MR WONG SAID.
THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON P. JACOBS, EXPLAINED THAT CHE OF THE OBJECTS OF THE TOURIST ASSOCIATION IS TO FURTHER THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG AS A HOLIDAY RESORT.
THE TERM +HOLIDAY RESCRT+ HAD, HOWEVER, SINCE TAKEN ON A SPECIAL MEANING IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY, HARROWER THAN THAT INTENDED, AND THE TERM +TOURIST DESTINATIC+ CONVEYED THE INTENTION WITH MORE PRECISION, HE SAID.
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