In view of the requests raised by an association of industry practitioners
on account of assaults on tourist guides by visitors, the TIC Board of Directors
wishes to state its views as follows:
Visitors should never use violence against such frontline workers of the
industry as tourist guides. The Board of Directors is very concerned about
the problem of tourist guides having become the target of violence, and strongly
condemns any acts of violence.
To tackle such a problem, representatives of the TIC have specially arranged
a meeting with officials of the Security Bureau, during which the anti-violence
position of the industry has been stated. The Board of Directors welcomes
the policy announced by the Immigration Department that visitors who have
committed criminal offences in Hong Kong may be refused entry in future, and
believes that it can be a strong deterrent to similar acts.
The Board of Directors urges all tourist guides and travel agents to immediately
report to the police and the TIC any incidents of violence they have encountered
when providing reception services for inbound tour groups.
The TIC has always attached importance to the views and requests of industry
practitioners, and will definitely pay careful attention to them as long as
they are expressed in a peaceful manner. Representatives of the TIC have earlier
met travel agents, tourist guides and registered shops that provide reception
services for inbound tour groups from the mainland in order to take heed of
their views and requests.
The TIC has always handled disputes between visitors and tourist guides
impartially without bias in order to uphold the image, reputation and interests
of the industry at large.
All staff of the TIC, including the Executive Director and Deputy Executive
Director, have always dutifully and diligently carried out the decisions of
the Board of Directors and various committees. The Board of Directors solemnly
states that staff of the TIC should never be subject to personal attacks because
of dutiful performance of duties, and that it will continue to give its full
backing to staff of the TIC who perform various duties in accordance with
the decisions of the Board of Directors and various committees.