In view of the requests raised by an association of industry practitioners on account of assaults on tourist guides by visitors, the TIC Board of Directors wishes to state its views as follows:

1. Visitors should never use violence against such frontline workers of the industry as tourist guides. The Board of Directors is very concerned about the problem of tourist guides having become the target of violence, and strongly condemns any acts of violence.

2. To tackle such a problem, representatives of the TIC have specially arranged a meeting with officials of the Security Bureau, during which the anti-violence position of the industry has been stated. The Board of Directors welcomes the policy announced by the Immigration Department that visitors who have committed criminal offences in Hong Kong may be refused entry in future, and believes that it can be a strong deterrent to similar acts.

3. The Board of Directors urges all tourist guides and travel agents to immediately report to the police and the TIC any incidents of violence they have encountered when providing reception services for inbound tour groups.

4. The TIC has always attached importance to the views and requests of industry practitioners, and will definitely pay careful attention to them as long as they are expressed in a peaceful manner. Representatives of the TIC have earlier met travel agents, tourist guides and registered shops that provide reception services for inbound tour groups from the mainland in order to take heed of their views and requests.

5. The TIC has always handled disputes between visitors and tourist guides impartially without bias in order to uphold the image, reputation and interests of the industry at large.

6. All staff of the TIC, including the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director, have always dutifully and diligently carried out the decisions of the Board of Directors and various committees. The Board of Directors solemnly states that staff of the TIC should never be subject to personal attacks because of dutiful performance of duties, and that it will continue to give its full backing to staff of the TIC who perform various duties in accordance with the decisions of the Board of Directors and various committees.