A man from mainland China was seriously injured in a fight with his tour guide and fellow tourists over suspected “shopping requirements” in Hung Hom on Monday, Apple Daily reported.
The 54-year-old tourist, identified as Mr Miao from Harbin, Heilongjiang province, fell into a coma after brawling erupted outside a jewellery store on Man Lok Street. He remains in critical condition.
Miao and a female colleague surnamed Zhang reportedly got into an argument with their tour guide, surnamed Deng, because they were chatting and smoking in front of the jewellery store instead of shopping inside like the other group members.
In the heat of the argument, Zhang allegedly slapped Deng on the face, inciting her supporters to join the fight. Surveillance footage showed four to five men fighting Miao, Apple Daily said.
Miao, Zhang and Deng have been arrested on suspicion of fighting in a public place. Police are investigating the case.
According to Oriental Daily, two to three men who were involved in the fight ran away and are now being hunted by police.
In recent years, budget tour groups to Hong Kong and Macau have become increasingly popular among mainland travellers. However, some of these tour packages require tourists to purchase goods from designated shops.
Agencies often charge very low fees for hotel accommodation and transportation and instead reap their profits from shopping commissions. Conflicts between tourists and their tour guides over “forced shopping” have been frequently reported.
