Authority issues travel advisory on trip to Hong Kong
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A tourism regulatory department under China's National Tourism Administration (NTA) issued an advisory on Saturday regarding traveling to Hong Kong after a group of tourists from the Chinese mainland were reportedly insulted in the special administration region (SAR).
An NTA spokesman said the administration had contacted tourism authorities in Hong Kong for further information, while ordering a probe into the case by tourism regulatory government departments and travel agencies on the mainland.
An undated video clip currently circulating on the Internet shows a Hong Kong tour guide allegedly abusing a group of visitors from the Chinese mainland and forcing them to shop, triggering a backlash from the mainland public.
The spokesman said the NTA attached great concern to the protection of mainland tourists' rights in Hong Kong and was concerned about the measures taken by Hong Kong tourism authority regarding such incidents.
He said the NTA would continue to adopt measures to crack down on the infringement of tourists' rights and regulate the tourism market.
Hong Kong's Commissioner of Tourism, Philip Yung, said the Hong Kong SAR government is very concerned about an incident involving a tour guide who allegedly insulted a group of mainland visitors, and has urged the Travel Industry Council to consider revoking the guide's license if she is found to have breached regulations.
Yung said he was informed by the council about a tour guide insulting a group of mainland tourists in March, noting that he had instructed the council to seriously investigate the incident.
Last month, Hong Kong tourism authorities pledged to tighten rules to protect travelers from forced shopping or visits to designated shopping stops.
A 65-year-old mainland tourist from southern China's Hunan Province died from a heart attack in Hong Kong in May after he argued with a tour guide over allegedly being forced to shop.
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