The government is proposing to let the 10,000 staff of the city's 1,700 travel agencies sell travel insurance policies - if they pass an examination.

The purpose behind the move is simple. Now, only 40 per cent of travellers purchase insurance cover before heading off on holidays, leaving many injured travellers facing huge medical bills from car accidents or other mishaps.

Insurance Commissioner Richard Yuen Ming-fai said the move would make it easier to get travel insurance without the inconvenience of going to a bank or other insurance agents to buy cover.

Countries such as Britain, Singapore, Australia and the United States allow registered travel agents to sell only travel insurance but not other products.

'It is natural and convenient for travellers to buy the insurance cover when they are booking a tour to go overseas,' Mr Yuen said.

It sounds like a great idea but not all are happy with the examination arrangements. The six insurance professional bodies are worried the travel agent test will be too simple and easier than those taken by insurance agents.

'We support the proposal to regulate the travel agents to sell travel insurance. However, we would urge the government to make sure the examination offered for the travel agents would not be too simple and easy, or it would undermine the quality of insurance services for travellers,' Hong Kong Confederation of Insurance Brokers secretary-general and registrar Eric Lee Wing-po said.

And our travel agent friends are upset that with the holiday season looming, they are too busy to study for the examinations.

brokers get exam tips

While our 10,000 travel agents face the prospect of a test, brokers have faced that pressure for a long time.

In the second podcast of White Collar, we talked to Hong Kong Securities Institute chief executive Gary Cheung Wai-kwok, a broker for more than 20 years before taking the present post.

Brokers have to pass an examination set by the institute and many complain the questions are too tough, with a pass rate as low as 14 per cent.

Mr Cheung explained the rationale behind the test and gives tips on how to do better in the examination. The podcast will be available at the SCMP.com website later today.

the godfather returns

The legend is back. After two years of rumours, 'insurance godfather' Andrew Yang Fang-shing announced last week that he was back in the game after joining his daughters' general agent company, Cinercy.

His declaration led all in the market to nervously wonder if he would start another round of the agent poaching war.

Two years ago, when he left Pacific Century Insurance Holdings, where he was executive vice-chairman and chief executive, he and the company sued each other for breaking employment contracts.

The cases were settled earlier this year, allowing Mr Yang to stage his comeback.

Speaking to White Collar, the 63-year-old said he had thought of retirement but found it was too boring to be a pensioner so soon.

'I have taken a long break for two years and found that it was so boring not working. I feel good to be back in the insurance sector,' Mr Yang said.

'I have not lost any time as I have studied for more than 30 hours of courses to update my insurance knowledge. I think all must learn throughout life.'

He is representing Asia Insurance's general insurance products and CMG Asia life products.

His daughters' company is not in the same league as his former firm. Pacific Century Insurance, 45 per cent owned by Richard Li Tzar-kai, has a team of 1,200 selling life policies.

With only 180 salespersons, Mr Yang's company prides itself on the flexibility of offering policies of four insurance companies.

His comeback has sparked speculation that he would repeat his tactic of asking old friends to join him.

When he left National Mutual in 1994, about 900 agents followed him to form Top Glory Insurance, which was renamed as Pacific Century Insurance in 1999.

That company also offered the carrot of high salaries to entice whole teams of agents to jump ship.

a moving moment

The insurance brokers' confederation is moving to a bigger office, from the Prince's Building in Central to the nearby St George's Building.

A ceremony will be hosted today by Mr Yuen with representatives of 240 members.