WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988
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SELF-REGULATION WILL HELP TRAVEL INDUSTRY
SELF-REGULATION IS THE BEST WAY TO HELP THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY DEVELOP IN A HEALTHY AND CONSTRUCTIVE DIRECTION, DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE TRAVEL AGENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988, DR IP SAID THE BILL REPRESENTED A VERY SIGNIFICANT STEP IN MOVING TOWARDS SELF-REGULATION BY THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY.
SHE NOTED THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE NEW PACKAGE ΤΟ PROTECT CONSUMERS WERE THAT ALL TRAVEL AGENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL (TIC) AND THAT THE TIC SHOULD ESTABLISH A COMPENSATION SCHEME BY COLLECTING A ONE PER CENT LEVY ON THE SALE OF ALL OUTBOUND PACKAGE TOURS.
70
DEFAULTING PER CENT
TRAVEL OF THE
ANOTHER MAIN FEATURE WAS THAT CLIENTS OF A AGENT WOULD RECEIVE COMPENSATION EQUIVALENT TO UNSATISFIED CLAIM.
"WE DO RECOGNISE THAT SOME SMALL OPERATORS MAY HAVE TO UPGRADE THEMSELVES FINANCIALLY BEFORE THEY CAN JOIN TIC BUT SURELY THIS WILL PROVIDE A FURTHER SAFEGUARD FROM THE CONSUMERS POINT OF VIEW. SHE SAID.
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TWO IMPORTANT ELEMENTS RELATED TO THE BILL WERE THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL AND THE TIC RESERVE FUND, WHICH WAS A SUBSIDIARY TO BE FORMED TO ADMINISTER SEPARATELY THE FUTURE RESERVE FUND, SHE SAID.
DR IP SAID THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL HAD ENQUIRED AS TO WHETHER PROVISIONS LAID DOWN IN SUCH NON-STATUTORY DOCUMENTS IN THE FORM OF A CONSTITUTION WOULD BE LESS THAN EFFECTIVE.
"WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE TWO CONSTITUTIONS WOULD BE LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND IF A PARTY FEELS AGGRIEVED HE IS ENTITLED TO APPROACH THE COURT FOR NECESSARY REMEDY, SAID DR IP, WHO WAS CONVENER OF THE AD HOC GROUP.
BE
BESIDES, APPROVAL FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD REQUIRED BEFORE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTIONS COULD BE MADE IN SUCH AREAS AS THE TIC MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA AND RULES TO BE MADE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE RESERVE FUND.
DR IP SAID THE AD HOC GROUP HAD BEEN PLEASED TO NOTE CRITERIA FOR BECOMING MEMBERS OF THE TIC WOULD BE CLEARLY IN THE TIC CONSTITUTION.
THAT THE LAID DOWN
THERE WOULD BE AN ELABORATE APPEALS SYSTEM TO ENSURE MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA WERE ADMINISTERED FAIRLY AND IMPARTIALLY.
THAT THE
TURNING TO