  
  
S/C/N/ 1115 
21 October 2022 
(22-7905) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade in Services  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE III:3 OF THE  
GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN SERVICES  
The following notification, dated  20 October 2022, from the delegation of Hong Kong, China , is being 
circulated to Members of the Council for Trade in Services . 
 
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1  MEMB ER NOTIFYING : 
Hong Kong , China  
2  NOTIFICATION UNDER : 
Article III:3 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services   
3  DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE : 
The new regulatory regime of the travel industry in Hong Kong is implemented through phased 
commencement of the Travel Industry Ordinance (“the Ordinance”):  
(a)  Phase 1: with the provisions of the Ordinance pertaining to the establishment of an 
independent Travel Industry Authority (“TIA”) came into operation on 2 Dece mber 2019, TIA was 
established in January 2020 to undertake essential preparatory work; and  
(b) Phase 2: after completion of the legislative process of the subsidiary legislation and other 
necessary preparations, the remaining provisions of the Ordinance took effect on 1 September 2022 
for TIA to implement the new regulatory regime in full.  
3.1  Duration:  
Indefinite  
4  AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE MEASURE : 
Travel Industry Authority (TIA)  
5  DESCRIPTION OF THE MEASURE : 
The Ordinance and its subs idiary legislation provide  a new regulatory regime of the travel industry 
of Hong Kong. Under the new regulatory regime, TIA is responsible for the licensing and regulation 
of travel agents, tourist guides and tour escorts, administration of the Travel Industry Compensation 
Fund; i mposition of levies on travel agents; and other matters related to the new regulatory regime 
of the travel industry. The new regulatory regime will help improve the service quality and 
professionalism of travel agents, tourist guides and tour escorts, and is conducive to the sustainable 
and healthy development of the travel industry . 
 
6  MEMB ERS SPECIFICALLY AFFECTED, IF ANY : 
None S/C/N/111 5 
 
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  7  TEXTS AVAILABLE FROM : 
The full text of the Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation is available from:  
https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap634  
 
 
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