Session No. 5 File name : cedb(cit)- doc
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- Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2010-11
Question : The Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), which is a trade association and not a Government department, requires travel agents to become its members before they can apply for business licences. Such prerequisite may be in contravention of the provision under Article 27 of the Basic Law which protects the freedom of association. Will the suggestion of merging the Tourism Commission and the TIC help clarify the requirement? Asked by : Hon. TSE Wai-chun, Paul Reply : The Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) has a membership that covers all local licensed travel agents. As an integral part of the regulatory mechanism for travel agents in Hong Kong, the TIC’s scope of work includes drawing up codes of good practice for the travel sector as well as handling complaints and non-compliance cases. At present, under the provisions of the Travel Agents Ordinance (Cap. 218), any person who carries on business as a travel agent in Hong Kong must be a member of the TIC before applying for a travel agent’s licence from the Travel Agents Registry. This arrangement constitutes the two-tier system for regulating travel agents in Hong Kong. It is a legal provision and not a requirement of the TIC. We consider that the two-tier regulatory system has been working effectively in the past years. In response to the motion passed at the meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development (ED Panel) on 16 July 2009, the government is reviewing issues related to the operation of the TIC, including its role under the two-tier regulatory system and whether the requirement under the system is in conformity with the Basic Law. We will report to the ED Panel on the outcome of the review when it is completed.
Question : The employees of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the Executive Director and senior staff in particular, are general highly paid, and this has drawn much criticism from the public and the media. In this regard, would the Government incorporate in each year’s budget the expected salaries, bonuses and fringe benefits as well as the methods for determining the salaries of the HKTB Chairman and senior staff in the coming year, so that the Legislative Councillors and the public may learn about the details in advance and query the relevant bureau when necessary? Asked by : Hon. TSE Wai-chun, Paul Reply : The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) determines the salary ranges and benefits for each level of its staff in accordance with the study and recommendations of a human resources consultant. Reference is made to the remuneration and benefits of public and private organisations the nature of business of which is comparable to that of the HKTB. The actual salary of individual staff is determined by his/her qualification, experience, skills as well as performance. In accordance with the Hong Kong Tourism Board Ordinance (Chapter 302), the appointment of the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director, and the determination of their remuneration and other terms of appointment, shall be subject to the approval of the Chief Executive (delegated to the Financial Secretary and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development respectively). For Band A staff (i.e. Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, General Managers and Regional Directors), their variable pay will be determined in accordance with the established mechanism, and subject to the approval of the Remuneration Review Committee which comprises members of the HKTB. The Chairman of the HKTB, whose work is of the public service nature, is not paid any remuneration. Each year, the HKTB publishes its staff cost and remuneration of Band A staff in its Annual Report, a copy of which is tabled at the Legislative Council and uploaded onto the HKTB website for the information of the general public. Members of the Legislative Council and the public thus already have access to information concerning the remuneration of the HKTB staff.
Directory: citb -> doc doc -> Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13 Director of Bureau : Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Session No. 12 File name : cedb(cit)- doc Download 4.7 Mb. Share with your friends:
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