XN000022-1985-12-05 — Page 4

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1985

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TRAVEL AGENTS LICENSING SCHEME TO START SOON

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PREPARATION AND PLANNING WORK FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE TRAVEL AGENTS LICENSING SCHEME IS NOW AT ITS FINAL STAGE, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR GERRY HIGGINSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

HE SAID THAT DRAFT TRAVEL AGENTS REGULATIONS WHICH SET OUT DETAILED PROCEDURES AND METHOD OF APPLICATIONS AND THE FEES REQUIRED WOULD SHORTLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

HE TOLD THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTH: +IF APPROVED, THE REGULATIONS WILL BE GAZETTED AND THE TRAVEL AGENTS REGISTRY WILL BE READY FOR BUSINESS.+

GIVING ADVANCE NOTICE TO ALL EXISTING TRAVEL AGENTS TO COME FORWARD TO APPLY FOR LICENCES, MR HIGGINSON SAID SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE TRAVEL AGENTS REGULATIONS, THE TRAVEL AGENTS REGISTRY AIMED TO COMMENCE DISTRIBUTION OF THE APPLICATION FORMS AT ITS OFFICE ON DECEMBER 16.

+WE ALSO INTEND TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION LEAFLETS AND APPLICATION FORMS THROUGH MAJOR TRAVEL ASSOCIATIONS, THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION.

+AS WE HOPE TO COMPLETE THE LICENSING WORK OF ALL EXISTING BONA FIDE TRAVEL AGENTS BEFORE LUNAR NEW YEAR. AND AS IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO PROCESS EACH APPLICATION, IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF ALL EXISTING AGENTS THAT THEY SHOULD APPLY AS SOON

IN LESS AS THE TRAVEL AGENTS REGISTRY COMMENCES OPERATION THAN TWO WEEKS TIME, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT TRAVEL AGENTS WHO SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS TOO LATE, SAY AFTER MID-JANUARY, MIGHT NOT BE GRANTED LICENCES IN TIME FOR THE FULL OPERATION OF THE TRAVEL AGENTS ORDINANCE.

WHICH

+AGENTS WITHOUT A LICENCE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE IR BUSINESS AFTER THE APPOINTED DAY WE HOPE WILL BE FEBRUARY 1, 1986, + HE SAID.

SPEAKING OF THE TIMING OF THE LICENSING PROGRAMME, HE SAID MANY WOULD WISH TO KNOW WHETHER THE PROGRAMME COULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE NEXT LUNAR NEW YEAR -- A BUSY PERIOD FOR HOLIDAY TOURS.

+AS SOON AS WE COMMENCE TO RECEIVE AND PROCESS APPLICATIONS, WE WILL START TO ESTABLISH THE IDENTITY OF APPLICANTS WHO INTEND TO CARRY ON BUSINESS AS A TRAVEL AGENT.

+ KNOW THAT THE INTENTION TO CARRY ON BUSINESS AS A TRAVEL AGENT IS ONE THING, WHEREAS WHETHER THE APPLICATION WILL BE SUCCESSFUL, RESULTING IN THE GRANT OF A LICENCE, IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THING.

/+NEVERTHELESS,