2015年CRI Hong Kong and Guangzhou Crack Down on Low-cost Tours

 

Authorities will publish a list of some 40 travel agencies in Guangzhou who operate tours to Hong Kong to help tourists avoid exploitation.

Under the agreement, these agencies should not force tourists to shop or resort to other illegal measures to cheat tourists.

According to Tan Aiying, Deputy Director of Guangzhou's Tourism Bureau, agencies getting listed this time should not rest on their laurels¹.

"After rounds of scrutiny², we selected these agencies which do not cheat or rip off customers. We will review the list every year, if there are any major complaints or misconduct, they will be disqualified."

Chairman of the Travel Industry Council in Hong Kong, Jason Wong, says the list should better protect the interests of tourists when they visit Hong Kong.

"Those agents agreed not to have a very unreasonable³ low fare, and not to force tourists to different shops. I think this is a very good practice, and it will have positive feedback to promote tourism in China."

At the same time, the number of mainland tourists visiting Hong Kong has seen a decline for recent months, even December, with Christmas and New Year's holidays, a traditionally peak season, is not improving.

Anthony Lau is the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

"We have noticed that the number of mainland tourists goes down this month, off set by the growing number of tourists from South East Asia and other regions. So we expect Shenzhen residents who make round-trips within a day will affect the overall number. "

The Ministry⁴ of Public Security issued a cap on trips to Hong Kong by residents of neighboring Shenzhen city in April.

In line with the new policy, authorities stop issuing multiple-entry permit to Shenzhen residents and will instead issue one-visit-per-week permit from April 13.

The strengthening of cooperation between Hong Kong and Guangzhou in the tourism industry comes after reports that some travel agencies offer lower than market rates for tourists but force them to shop at selected stores in Hong Kong.

A mainland middle-aged⁵ man was beaten to death in Hong Kong in October, after a suspected dispute in a jewelry⁶ shop.

The case was adjourned⁷ to February next year, with two defendants⁸ released on bail⁹.

1 laurels   

n.桂冠，荣誉

参考例句：

• The path was lined with laurels.小路两旁都种有月桂树。
• He reaped the laurels in the finals.他在决赛中荣膺冠军。

2 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

3 unreasonable   

adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的

参考例句：

• I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
• They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

6 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

7 adjourned   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。

8 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

9 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。