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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988
THIS SUGGESTION WOULD BE FOLLOWED UP WHEN DETAILED RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR ADMINISTERING THE NEW COMPENSATION SCHEME WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE TIC RESERVE FUND BOARD.
THE BILL PROVIDED A BROAD FRAMEWORK FOR THE POLICY OF SELF-REGULATION TO BE INTRODUCED, MR JACOBS SAID.
MANY OF THE DETAILED MEASURES WERE CONTAINED IN THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL AND THE TIC RESERVE FUND.
"THESE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN PREPARED BY THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL IN CLOSE CO-OPERATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN STUDIED BY THE AD HOC GROUP OF THIS COUNCIL.
"WHILST THE CONSTITUTIONS DO NOT,
IN THEMSELVES, HAVE
STATUTORY FORCE, CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS HAVE BEEN BUILT IN TO REQUIRE THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNMENT IN RESPECT OF FUTURE AMENDMENTS то KEY FEATURES OF THE SELF-REGULATION SCHEME.
"THE CONTROLS ON FUTURE AMENDMENTS COVER MAINLY CHANGES TO THE TIC MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA, THE APPEALS MECHANISM POR REVIEWING REJECTION OF APPLICATIONS FOR TIC MEMBERSHIP AND THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADMINISTERING THE TIC RESERVE FUND.
"THESE SAFEGUARDS WILL GIVE THE GOVERNMENT AN CONTROL ΤΟ ENSURE THAT SELF-REGULATION DOES RESTRICTIVE TRADE PRACTICES.
OF
ADEQUATE DEGREE NOT LEAD TO
MR JACOBS SAID IT HAD ALSO BEEN PROPOSED THAT THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL AND THE TIC RESERVE FUND SHOULD BE MADE "PUBLIC BODIES" UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE. THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTED THIS PROPOSAL IN PRINCIPLE, AND THE TIC ALSO RECOGNISED IMPORTANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN THIS REGARD.
ASSISTANCE
"AS A FIRST STEP, THE TIC WITH THE DEVELOP A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE TIC AND TIC RESERVE TO FOLLOW," HE SAID.
THE
OF ICAC, WILL FUND DIRECTORS
"WHEN THE NECESSARY GROUND WORK HAS BEEN DONE, STEPS WILL THEN BE TAKEN TO DESIGNATE THE TIC AND THE TIC RESERVE FUND AS 'PUBLIC BODIES'.
"THE CO-OPERATION OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL IN RELATION TO THIS ASPECT IS, I FEEL, PARTICULARLY COMMENDABLE.
1
REFERRING TO MEMBERS SUGGESTION THAT THE COMPENSATION LEVEL SHOULD BE SET AT 100 PER CENT, MR JACOBS SAID THE 70 PER CENT LEVEL PROPOSED IN THE BILL STRUCK A REASONABLE BALANCE BETWEEN THE VARIOUS INTERESTS INVOLVED.
HOWEVER, HE COULD SEE THERE WAS STRONG PUBLIC FEELING ON THIS POINT, AND THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD LOOK AT IT AGAIN.
REFERRING TO A POINT MADE BY THE HON K.C. CHAN, MR JACOBS SAID A VALID DISTINCTION COULD BE DRAWN BETWEEN PROTECTION OF A MAN'S LIVELIHOOD OR SOMEONE'S SAVINGS AND PROTECTION OF MONEY WHICH HAD BEEN SPENT FOR RECREATIONAL AND PLEASURE PURPOSES.
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