Permanent ban on 'cruel' HK tour guide

Hong Kong tour guide Li Qiaozhen, known as "Ah Zhen" is seen at a press conference in this file photo of July 27. 2010. The Tourism Industry Council (TIC) of Hong Kong permanently suspended her profession certificate on Saturday. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Hong Kong tour guide known as "Ah Zhen" had her qualification certificate revoked on Saturday after her "verbal abuse" to tourists who refused to shop was released on the Internet and sparkled anger and complaints across the country.

The Tourism Industry Council (TIC) of Hong Kong, which received a formal compliant from Anhui Tourism Administration over the incident in August, permanently suspended Li Qiaozhen (Ah Zhen) as a tour guide and issued a fine of 47,500 HKD to Li's employer.

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One member of a tour group from Anhui that Li hosted in March secretly filmed the incident, where Li verbally abused the tour members with cursing words after they refused to buy goods at a jewelry shop. Li complained about their spending by saying "there is no free lunch in the world" and forced further shopping during the rest of the tour.

The radio clip was uploaded on the Internet and aired on TV news programs and "Ah Zhen" earned a label of "cruel" tour guide from angry viewers.

The tourists demanded a refund for all they purchased during their Hong Kong tour in March because of the "unsatisfactory shopping schedule."

The council inflicted the severest punishment to Li to try to redeem the disgraced reputation of the industry in Hong Kong and cited she had previous "compulsive shopping assignment" convictions.

Li was granted an appeal within a fortnight. She will be able to apply for the certificate again six month later if the appeal is rejected.

Another tour guide was suspended for three months by the Council in a similar case.

Li's employer agency gave no comment explaining they had not been informed about the Council's decision.

Officials from Hong Kong's tour guide trade union said "Ah Zhen" was the scapegoat for the travel agency because "compulsive shopping" was due to the "zero tour group fare." "Without fare, tour guides have to earn commissions from shopping spending instead," an official was cited by zaobao.com.