Government announces appointments to Travel Industry Authority
The Government announced today (December 6) that the Chief Executive has appointed Mr Ma Ho-fai as the Chairperson of the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) and 28 persons as ordinary members of the TIA for a period of two years with effect from January 1, 2020. The appointments were made in accordance with section 1 in Schedule 9 to the Travel Industry Ordinance (TIO) (Chapter 634).
The TIA is a new statutory regulatory body of the travel industry established under the TIO. It is primarily responsible for the licensing and regulation of travel agents, tourist guides and tour escorts.
On the appointments, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said, "The TIA will take up a range of challenging tasks in establishing itself as a new regulator of the travel industry in Hong Kong. Mr Ma has rich experience in public service. We are confident that under his leadership, the TIA will work closely with different stakeholders in setting up a new robust regulatory regime for the travel industry.
"Apart from the Chairperson and the Vice-chairperson (the Commissioner for Tourism), there are 28 ordinary members, namely 13 trade members and 15 non-trade members, in the TIA. The trade members comprise individuals who are engaged in inbound and outbound travel agent business, tourist guides and tour escorts, and members of the Board of Directors of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), enabling the TIA to have representation from a broad spectrum of the trade.
"For the non-trade members, they come from various fields and can provide valuable advice to the TIA with their expertise and experience in the respective areas, including law, accountancy, finance, education, consumer affairs and general administration, thereby contributing to the setting up of a comprehensive and effective regulatory regime for the travel industry."
The following is the membership list of the TIA:
Chairperson: Mr Ma Ho-fai
Vice-chairperson: Commissioner for Tourism
Ordinary members: Trade members
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Ms Lanny Leung Kong-lan
Mr Paul Leung Yiu-lam
Mr Martin Ma Yuk-man
Dr Priscilla Poon Chau-min
Mr Jason Shum Jiu-sang
Ms Catherine So Ka-woon
Mrs Ann Tang Yu Li-hua
Mr Tse Yun-sang
Mr Jason Wong Chun-tat
Mr Wong Ka-ngai
Ms Gianna Wong Mei-kiu
Mr Michael Wu Siu-ieng
Mr Yiu Pak-leung
Non-trade members
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Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung
Ms Kerry Ching Kim-wai
Mr Alex Fan Hoi-kit
Professor Cathy Hsu Hui-chun
Mr Chris Ip Ngo-tung
Mr Victor Lam Hoi-cheung
Mr Kevin Lam Sze-cay
Mr Johnny Leung Ka-kui
Mr Fred Li Wah-ming
Ms Elaine Liu Yuk-ling
Dr Barry Mak Lui-ming
Mr James Tong Wai-pong
Mr Wilfred Wong Kam-pui
Mr Adrian Wong Koon-man
Mr Charles Yang Chuen-liang
The Government expects that it will take about two years for the TIA, upon establishment, to complete all necessary preparation before taking over the licensing and trade regulatory functions from the Travel Agents Registry and the TIC respectively for the full implementation of the new regulatory regime.