2 Hong Kong travel agencies, guide stripped of licences over ‘coerced shopping’

2 Hong Kong travel agencies, guide stripped of licences over ‘coerced shopping’ Travel Industry Authority says agencies failed to stop coercion of mainland Chinese tourists, while guide used threats to encourage purchases Hong Kong’s tourism watchdog has revoked the licences of two travel agencies and a guide after finding they failed to protect members of mainland Chinese tour groups from being subjected to “coerced shopping”. The Travel Industry Authority said on Monday that the licences of Go Go Ming Travel Services, Grandee Travel Company and guide Sun Kwun-ying had been revoked with immediate effect. The watchdog said the decision stemmed from two cases involving mainland tour groups handled by the agencies in February and April. Investigations found the companies had failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure tour participants were not subjected to coerced shopping, while Sun had made threatening remarks to pressure visitors into making purchases, it said. The authority added that it would step up inspections with other law enforcement agencies ahead of the mainland’s National Day “golden week” holiday, when the city is expected to receive an influx of visitors from across the border.