HOLIDAYMAKERS demanded compensation for a tour to Guangdong which they said turned into a nightmare when their transport failed to arrive and women members were sexually harassed on public transport. Hong Thai Citizens Travel Ltd, the company which organised the three-day tour of northern Guangdong, has offered customers $175 compensation. But it admitted it was only doing so because of the publicity the tourists had attracted, not because it accepted responsibility. Angry tourists packed Hong Thai's Sheung Wan head office yesterday after returning on Sunday from the trip to Shaoguan, a popular Guangdong tourist spot. Representatives of the 31-member party claimed they had been forced to take public buses and a train from Shenzhen to Shaoguan after an organised train trip promised in the tour itinerary was not arranged. One representative, Ms Jo Jo Law Siu-fung, claimed that some of the women had been sexually harassed during the train trip. The conditions on the train were poor and some women had been touched by men who climbed aboard the train. Ms Law said: ''What we worried most over was our safety. We had many women and children in the tour. Rape, sexual assault or robbery could have happened.'' Another traveller, Ms Annie Law, said: ''Someone touched my legs. I dared not go to sleep.'' Tourists claimed that the female escort had not been able to help on the train and had assumed an irresponsible attitude in general. The company has promised to investigate transport arrangements for the tour and the conduct of its escort. Disciplinary action would follow if necessary, but no written apology would be given until the agency had the result of the investigation. Hong Thai assistant manager Mr Joe Lee Ho maintained his company was not at fault, but that it had to concede to the customers' demands because they had gone to the media. But the travellers have said they will report Hong Thai to the Consumer Council if they fail to get satisfactory recourse.
