IMMIGRATION officers have axed a stamp warning Taiwanese visitors not to embarrass Hong Kong during their stay after an outcry from the suffering tourism industry.
Taiwanese officials had blasted the warning, stamped in visitors' travel documents, as 'offensive' and a threat to tourism after it was revealed on Wednesday.
The Immigation Department, which began using the stamp last month, said it would stop the practice from tomorrow.
The Hong Kong Tourist Association and legislator Howard Young welcomed the backdown, which they said would avoid further offending visitors from the SAR's second largest market.
Taiwan representative Cheng An-kuo said he was reassured by the speedy response and said it would help improve Hong Kong's battered image.
The stamps told visitors they could not claim to represent any Taiwanese organisations while in Hong Kong, fly flags, display emblems or engage in activities which would 'embarrass' the SAR Government.
Officers said they also would remove these conditions from application forms for Hong Kong entry permits.
