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Wednesday, August 30, 1972
As regards malpractices, he said he was not quite sure what particular
malpractices or alleged malpractices in the tourist trade Mr. Woo was referring.
He said there had been reports about the conduct of some travel agents
and tour operators. "In particular, the Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents
has complained that some tourists, in particular Japanese tourists, are being
overcharged for their purchases in certain Hong Kong shops."
According to enquiries made by the Tourist Association, he said, some
tourist guides negotiated commissions from tourist shops on the basis of the
business they introduced.
Mr. Haddon-Cave said whether this sort of situation should be dealt
with by measures such as the compulsory registration of travel agents and tour
operations was, in his view, another question.
"So is the criteria to be applied in deciding who is fit to be and
who is not fit to be registered. So is the definition of the standards of
business ethics to be applied.
"In any case, such actions, by introducing a closed shop in this sphere
of activity might well reduce competition and raise tour prices unduly," he said.
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