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Because of the unfairness the industry is suffering:
- It takes four approvals, four fees - business registration fee, business association membership fee, TIC membership fee and licence fee, to found a travel agent. Such "blessing" is nowhere to be found in other industries in HK.
- Airline commission reduction; collecting fuel sur-charge and airport tax without remuneration; the hindrance of numerous TIC rules; unfair punishment in forms of huge fine and suspension instead of efficient management and guidance, in addition to a total lack of fairness and transparency, all put the agents in a dire situation.
- In spite of the 500-million Compensation Fund, travel agents and travelers are still not sufficiently protected. Air ticket purchases are totally left out. The industry pays millions of dollars of levy each year to protect its customers, yet professional indemnity insurance is still inaccessible to its member agents.
- Inspite of the hundreds of millions dollars in HKTB's annual budget, agents still have to bear their own costs for overseas promotion. The purported lack of funding even forced the cancellation of the popular HK International Dragon Boat Regatta. How unfair!
All these are only the tip of an iceberg. Over a thousand agents contacted by Paul all share a common sentiment of being mistreated and neglected.
If you crave for change, and are sick of the stagnancy in the travel industry all these years, please vote for Paul Tse on 7th Sep.
Paul knows how hard it's been for you:
- Since the 1990s, Paul has been actively involved in the industry, providing voluntary legal advice for TIC, business associations and many of their members. He is well conversant in various important issues related to the industry, like Professional Indemnity Insurance, Same Day Void, TIC guidelines and rules.
- An overhaul in existing laws and regulations is a must in order to change the status quo. As an experienced lawyer, Paul surely makes this task easier.
- For the past 4 months, Paul has been visiting and listening to agent by agent, identifying their woes and trying to find the best solutions.
- The determination and dedication makes Paul an ideal champion for the industry. Though he might not be able to provide a perfect way-out for every situation, he will never be afraid to try, and will not easily give up.
- Medicins Sans Frontieres has demonstrated to the whole world that professional background, or even ethnicity and nationality all pale in comparison to the eagerness to serve those in need. Solicitors Miriam Lau (Functional Constituency - Transport) and Ronald Arculli (Functional Constituency -Real Estate and Construction) are all fine examples of how lawyers can effectively represent and serve other non-legal industries as a Legco member.
Why vote for Paul?
It's true that Paul is facing a mighty opponent in TIC Executive Director who, with the support of TIC Chairman and Liberal Party, enjoys a huge advantage in resources and political influence. However, it's the ordinary members, the ones without a way to vent their anguish, that Paul is fighting for. He believes nothing, not even long-standing political bullies, can stop the voices of thousands of agents calling for change.
Mr. Joseph Tung has been at the helm of TIC for over a decade. If he had the will and way to defend the rights of the industry, he should have proved himself long ago. Why does he need to be in the Legco to do what he was supposed to do? If Tung ever succeeded Howard Young, all the 3 most important positions for the industry - HKTB chairman, TIC chairman and Legco's Functional Constituency of Tourism will be monopolized by the Liberty Party. The lack of alternative voices will no doubt harm the industry.
Paul, on the other hand, poses no such threat. Rather, he is outspoken, committed and always willing to help. It's his firm belief that dedication to serve the industry can outweigh any partisan support. All he needs is your vote and your support to help him win the seat to enable him to fight for every one of you and to make a positive change for your future.
Paul Tse Campaign Headquarter
July 2008
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