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Hong Kong has welcomed its first batch of tourists taking part in what officials are calling the first "honest and quality tour".

The Beijing Tourism Administration (BTA) has established the tours in a bid to restore the city's reputation following a string of unwelcome reports from visitors.

A row had been brewing between tour guides and tourism officials after it was revealed that many guides were taking groups to shops rather than to Hong Kong's major tourist attractions.

Once there, many tourists were forced to purchase items as the guides were working on a commission, which they only received if tourists spent money in the shops.

The new "honest" tours have now been introduced in a bid to put a stop to this practice and BTA director Du Jiang has expressed his hope that they will be become the norm very soon.

Speaking to the Chinese daily the Standard, Mr Jiang said previous tours were detrimental to the tourism industry.

'It was an unpleasant experience for the tourists, while the travel agent was struggling to make a profit,' he said. 'This is not a good thing.'

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is pleased with the new itinerary for the tours, which are said to offer a real taste of Hong Kong life.

'For example, they will have a Hong Kong-style breakfast - yum cha - and stay two nights in four-star hotels and one night in Hollywood Hotel at Hong Kong Disneyland," said a spokeswoman for the KKTB.

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