The death of a mainland tourist from a heart attack following a quarrel with tour guide over coerced shopping is being investigated as a crime, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan said on Thursday.

"Because of the criminal aspects involved, we're investigating the incident together with the police. We will pursue this to the end. No matter how many versions there are, we will find out the truth," she said.

Most of Hong Kong's 1,500 travel agencies do their business honestly, she said, adding, however, that one unethical operator is enough to inflict damage to Hong Kong's travel industry and even Hong Kong's economy.

The tragedy that has sent a shockwave throughout Hong Kong's travel industry occurred on May 22. According to reports, Chen Youming, a 65-year-old man from Hunan Province, was taken to a Hung Hom jewelry shop, JW Jewellery Outlet Limited, together with other members of his tour group. Instead of shopping for jewelry, he went outside the shop to read a newspaper. After an alleged attempt by the tour guide to persuade Chen to re-enter the shop failed, the two began to quarrel. Chen collapsed during the reportedly heated argument. Noting the incident, a shop assistant called the emergency hotline, but Chen died soon after he was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Chen's family then complained to the Hong Kong travel agencies' self-governing body the Travel Industry Council.

In a bid to crack down on unscrupulous practices among travel operators, Hong Kong reached a cooperation agreement with Shenzhen travel authorities on Thursday, she disclosed.

After Commissioner of Tourism W H Yung's meeting with Shenzhen officials Thursday afternoon, a consensus was reached to adopt four measures: the Shenzhen Tourism Bureau will supply information about Hong Kong-destined tour groups to Hong Kong, step up inspection of tour guides, stiffen penalties for violations and provide assistance for TIC's inspection.

Many short-haul tour groups from the mainland, including the one in which Chen participated, are organized by Shenzhen agencies, TIC Chairman Michael Wu explained.

With better exchange of information, such as itinerary details, travel agencies will be more careful about the arrangements they make, he said.

TIC is also considering "secret shoppers", working undercover to observe tours conducted by Hong Kong agencies that have been the subject of complaints, Wu said.

Yu Li-hua, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Professional Tourist Guides Association, said the root problem of coerced shopping lies in so-called "zero-fee" tour packages.

She said the hiring practices for tour guides in Hong Kong' is in an unhealthy state. To boost commissions generated from tourists' purchases, a tour group sometimes has two or three guides who are responsible for travel and shopping separately.

Tour operators also employ unlicensed guides to save costs, she said.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board's (HKTB) James Tien said HKTB, in conjunction with its promotional activities in north and east China, is distributing leaflets warning tourists against abnormally cheap tour packages.

He expressed regret over the incident and extended condolences to Chen's family.

He called unlicensed tour guides a new phenomenon, for which the board and TIC are studying in order to devise appropriate control measures.

Chen Yi, the daughter of the deceased tourist, Thursday expressed gratitude to Hong Kong for attaching importance to the matter.

China Daily

(HK Edition 06/04/2010 page1)