Shenzhen will join Beijing and Shanghai from next year to have a "Quality and Honest Tour" arrangement with Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Clara Chong and Shenzhen Tourism Bureau Director Li Xiaogan signed a memorandum of cooperation in Shenzhen yesterday on "Quality and Honest Tour" between the two cities.

Twenty-two Shenzhen travel agencies have vowed to boycott zero-fee tours, and have said people on the Hong Kong tours they organize would not be compelled to shop.

Commissioner for Tourism Au King-chi said "Quality and Honest Tour" could establish Hong Kong's quality brands and bolster tourists' confidence to visit the city.

She hoped the introduction of "Quality and Honest Tour" in key mainland cities such as Shenzhen would help extend it to other cities and provinces.

To promote "Quality and Honest Tour", the Hong Kong Travel Industry Council and Shenzhen's travel industry would sign another agreement to strengthen communication between the two cities and to bring erring travel agencies to book.

To this end, Shenzhen Tourism Bureau will conduct more random checks on the city's travel agencies, Li Xiaogan said.

Agencies found to have breached regulations would be disqualified from conducting tours to Hong Kong.

Since "Quality and Honest Tour" fee is higher, initially it might reduce the number of visitors to the city, Hong Kong Tourism Board Chairperson Selina Chow said. But in the long run, it was bound to become popular among tourists.

The tour fee from Shenzhen to Hong Kong ranges from HK$380 to HK$1,780.

A one-day tour to Ocean Park and Avenue of Stars will cost HK$380. A two-day tour to Disneyland and Ngong Ping 360 can cost a mainlander HK$1,080, and a four-day comprehensive tour of the city will leave a person poorer by HK$1,780.