Source: CCTV.com

04-23-2007 11:29

Special Report:   HK 10 Years

Hong Kong is a popular destination for mainland tourists, especially if they're looking to go on a shopping spree. But recent scams have left tourists thinking twice about visiting the shoppers' paradise. Now, the Hong Kong government is launching a scheme to prevent shoppers from being cheated by dishonest merchants.

The HK SAR government probe uncovered scams in stores appointed by travel agencies that offer much cheaper tour packages. These travel agents typically charge half the usual price for their holidays. To cover their costs and make more profits, these agents will take tourists to stores that force them to buy products, some of which are even counterfeits.

About 60 percent of all tourists from the Chinese mainland travelling to Hong Kong will go through Shenzhen customs. To protect the interests of this large group, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and relevant mainland departments jointly launched a scheme called "The Honest and Quality Hong Kong Tour and the Quality Tourism Services" at the end of last year.

Zhang Jun, GM of Shenzhen Tourism Bureau said:“ We joined the project in January. Our customers think it's a great idea and believe it will help them avoid trouble during their holidays.”