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WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1985
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+AN EX-GRATIA PAYMENT CAN BE MADE FROM IT BY THE REGISTRAR UPON APPLICATION BY A PERSON WHO HAS OBTAINED A JUDGEMENT FOR A SUM OF MONEY AGAINST A LICENSEE OR WHO HAS LODGED A PROOF OF DEBT, EITHER OF WHICH IS UNSATISFIED.
+PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF SUCH JUDGEMENTS OR PROOF OF DEBT ARE TO BE LIMITED TO THE PROVISION OF TRAVEL SERVICES PROVIDED BY A LICENSED TRAVEL AGENT, HE SAID.
SPEAKING OF THE LICENSING SCHEME AND THE RESERVE FUND, HE SAID, AN OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR FOR TRAVEL AGENTS WOULD BE ESTABLISHED.
THE REGISTRAR WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VETTING OF LICENCE APPLICATIONS, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS LEGISLATION.
THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR WAS EXPECTED TO BECOME OPERATIVE IN EARLY 1986.
+HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR WHEN SO MANY HONG KONG PEOPLE TRAVEL, HE SAID.
TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY GUIDELINES FOR THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE BILL, CLAUSE 7 PROVIDES FOR AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRAVEL AGENTS TO BE ESTABLISHED.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD EXAMINE SUCH MATTERS AS THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ORDINANCE AND WOULD HAVE REGARD TO THE INTERESTS OF BOTH TRAVEL AGENTS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS.
IT IS IN THIS COMMITTEE THAT I FORESEE PROPOSALS BEING DEVELOPED FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS AND SELF- REGULATION IN THE INDUSTRY, HE ADDED.
THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE BILL HAD BEEN FORMULATED ON THE ADVICE OF THE WORKING PARTY ON TRAVEL AGENTS, AND HE WAS GRATEFUL TO ALL THE MEMBERS WHO HAD HAD TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME IN STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN THE INTERESTS OF THE INDUSTRY AND OF THE PUBLIC.
IF THE BILL WERE ENACTED, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD RECEIVE A DEGREE OF PROTECTION, HE SAID.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY ITSELF SHOULD HAVE A FORUM IN WHICH IT COULD BE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER TO BUILD A SELF-REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS THE PROPER APPROACH TO ACHIEVE IMPROVED QUALITY AND PROFESSIONALISM.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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