Measures for examination and approval of service providers from Hong Kong and Macao applying for the establishment of travel agencies in Guangdong Province

Article 1 In order to further strengthen the tourism exchanges and cooperation between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (hereinafter referred to as Hong Kong) and the Macao Special Administrative Region (hereinafter referred to as Macao), this Agreement is formulated in accordance with the Administrative Licensing Law, the Regulations on the Administration of Travel Agencies, the Fifth Supplementary Agreement on Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong and the Fifth Supplementary Agreement on Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Macao. Article 2 These Measures shall apply to the application and approval of Hong Kong service providers and Macao service providers to set up wholly-owned, joint venture and cooperative travel agencies in Guangdong Province.

These Measures shall not apply to the application and approval of other investors from Hong Kong and Macao to set up travel agencies in Guangdong Province. Article 3 The service providers in Hong Kong and Macao as mentioned in these Measures shall meet the requirements of the definition of service providers and relevant provisions in the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong and the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Macao respectively. Article 4 The National Tourism Administration and the Ministry of Commerce respectively entrust the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Administration and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation to accept and approve the applications of Hong Kong and Macao service providers to set up travel agencies in Guangdong Province in accordance with the Regulations on the Administration of Travel Agencies.

The Guangdong Provincial Tourism Bureau and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation shall not entrust the acceptance and examination and approval of applications specified in the preceding paragraph to other organizations or individuals. Article 5 Service providers from Hong Kong and Macao who apply to set up travel agencies in Guangdong Province shall meet the conditions stipulated in the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong and its supplementary agreement, the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Macao and its supplementary agreement and the Regulations on the Administration of Travel Agencies approved by the State Council respectively. Article 6 Where a service provider from Hong Kong or Macao applies to set up a travel agency in Guangdong Province, the investor shall apply to the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Bureau and submit relevant supporting documents that meet the conditions as stipulated in Article 5 of these Measures.

Guangdong Provincial Tourism Bureau shall, within 60 days from the date of accepting the application, complete the examination of the application and make a decision on approval or disapproval. Approved, issued by the "Hong Kong and Macao investment travel agency business license approval opinions"; If it is not approved, it shall notify the applicant in writing and explain the reasons.

The applicant submitted an application to the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province for the establishment of overseas Chinese investment enterprises in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao with the approval opinions on the business license of Hong Kong and Macao investment travel agencies and the contracts and articles of association signed by investors. Guangdong Provincial Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation shall, from the date of accepting the application, review the contract and articles of association of the overseas Chinese investment travel agency to be established in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao within the time stipulated by relevant laws and administrative regulations, and make a decision on approval or disapproval. If it is approved, it will issue the Approval Certificate for Overseas Chinese Investment Enterprises in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, and notify the applicant to obtain the travel agency business license from Guangdong Provincial Tourism Bureau; If it is not approved, it shall notify the applicant in writing and explain the reasons.

The applicant shall go through the registration formalities with the administrative department for industry and commerce with the Travel Agency Business License and the Approval Certificate for Overseas Chinese Investment Enterprises in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. Article 7 The National Tourism Administration and the Ministry of Commerce respectively guide and supervise the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Administration and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation in accepting and approving applications from Hong Kong and Macao service providers to set up travel agencies in Guangdong Province.

The Guangdong Provincial Tourism Bureau and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation shall, in accordance with the provisions of the National Tourism Administration and the Ministry of Commerce, record the acceptance and approval of applications by service providers from Hong Kong and Macao to set up travel agencies in Guangdong Province. Article 8 These Measures shall come into force on June 6+1October 6+1October 6, 2009.