Hong Kong tour guide struck off for threatening mainland Chinese reluctant to shop
Travel Industry Authority says Lam Chun-fai’s actions ‘absolutely unacceptable’ after investigating complaints by tour group
A Hong Kong tour guide who was found to have threatened visitors to make them shop has been struck off for damaging the sector’s reputation.
The Travel Industry Authority said on Friday it had revoked Lam Chun-fai’s tourist guide licence after investigating complaints by some members of a mainland Chinese tour group in February that he strong-armed them into shopping.
Lam also berated those who were reluctant to spend and threatened the group that the trip could be affected if they did not buy goods at designated shops during a February 13 tour, the authority said.
The authority did not release further details about the incidents, but said: “Lam admitted his behaviour had harmed the reputation of the Hong Kong tourism industry.”
It said it had decided to take action under Section 111 of the Travel Industry Ordinance after considering the results of the inquiry and being satisfied Lam “was not suitable to continue to hold a tourist guide licence”.
Under the ordinance, the authority can revoke a licence on the recommendation of the disciplinary committee chairman if the act or conduct of the guide “brings, or poses an imminent risk of bringing, the travel industry of Hong Kong into disrepute”.
The authority said the move was intended to convey the “clear message” to the public and the industry that Lam’s conduct and the adverse impact on the city’s image and reputation were “absolutely unacceptable”.
