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In response to media enquiries relating to the winding-up of the Guangdong (HK) Tours Company Limited, a spokesman for the Tourism Commission said today (June 12) that the Commission is looking into the matter while the Travel Industry Council (TIC) is making efforts to help affected travellers.

The Registry of Travel Agents (RTA) is now liaising with the provisional liquidator to obtain more details about the case.

TIC is checking the number of outbound travellers affected and liaising with them to offer assistance. According to TIC, arrangements have been made for a group of 25 travellers to commence their trip to Thailand tomorrow as scheduled.

For other affected travellers, they can have two options:

1. TIC will assist outbound travellers to continue their trips with other travel agents; or

2. With their franked receipt, they can obtain ex gratia payment of up to 90% of their outbound fare from the Travel Industry Compensation Fund.

The spokesman said we are confident that the TIC will continue to closely monitor the operation of travel agents. "Outbound travellers' confidence should not be affected as their interests are well-protected under the Travel Industry Compensation Fund," he stressed.

End/ Thursday, June 12, 2003

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