THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1985
IN FUTURE, IN ORDER TO OPERATE AN OUTBOUND TRAVEL SERVICE, A PERSON WILL HAVE TO OBTAIN A LICENCE FROM THE REGISTRAR OF TRAVEL AGENTS. IN ADDITION, ANY ADVERTISEMENT OF TRAVEL SERVICES WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED IF THE AGENT IS LICENSED AND IF IT STATES THE AGENT'S LICENCE NUMBER.
THE REGISTRAR MAY REFUSE TO ISSUE A LICENCE IF THE APPLICANT IS NOT A +FIT AND PROPER PERSON+, FOR EXAMPLE, IF HE HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF AN OFFENCE INVOLVING FRAUD, CORRUPTION OR DISHONESTY, OR IS INSOLVENT; OR IF HIS OFFICE IS UNSUITABLE FOR THE OPERATION OF THE BUSINESS OF A TRAVEL AGENT.
A LICENSED TRAVEL AGENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN PRIOR PERMISSION FOR A CHANGE OF CONTROL OR OWNERSHIP AND ANY CHANGE IN HIS BUSINESS ADDRESS WILL REQUIRE AN APPLICATION FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE LICENCE.
THE REGISTRAR WILL BE EMPOWERED TO INVESTIGATE THE ACTIVITIES OF A TRAVEL AGENT AND TO REQUEST A MAGISTRATE TO STOP A PERSON WHO CAN ASSIST IN HIS INQUIRIES FROM LEAVING HONG KONG.
AS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RESERVE FUND, THE PROPOSAL IS FOR EACH LICENSED TRAVEL AGENT TO MAKE A ONE-OFF CONTRIBUTION OF $2 500. WITH ABOUT 2 000 LICENSEES EXPECTED TO BE REGISTERED, THE FUND WILL START OFF WITH ABOUT $5 MILLION.
THERE IS PROVISION IN THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR A FURTHER LEVY SHOULD THE FUND BE DEPLETED AND NEEDED TOPPING UP.
AN EX-GRATIA PAYMENT CAN BE MADE FROM THE FUND BY THE REGISTRAR UPON APPLICATION BY A PERSON WHO HAS OBTAINED JUDGMENT FOR A SUM OF MONEY AGAINST A LICENSEE OR WHO HAD LODGED A PROOF OF DEBT, EITHER OF WHICH IS UNSATISFIED.
THE JUDGMENT OR PROOF OF DEBT HAS TO BE RELATED TO TRAVEL SERVICES PROVIDED BY A LICENSED TRAVEL AGENT WHO IS REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE COMPOSITION OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS YET TO BE FINALISED, BUT IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION AND A FEW OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY. THE REGISTRAR WILL BE AN EX-OFFICIO MEMBER AND THE SECRETARY,
/HE NOTED
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