Agencies to be asked to prove visa approval

The Travel Industry Council (TIC) plans to submit a proposal to the China National Tourism Administration, which requires mainland travel agencies to provide proof of visa approval before sending transit tourists to Hong Kong. This is in response to a mainland tour group heading for Taiwan which was stranded in the Lok Ma Chau border control point because of visa problems. TIC chairman Michael Wu said the incident was due to the mistakes by mainland travel agencies and individual tourists. The Hong Kong agency arranging local visits for these tourists had fulfilled its duties. The TIC will consult its members on the