Travel News
Scottish tourists not getting value for money in Hong Kong
By DPA
Mar 12, 2007, 16:28 GMT

Hong Kong - Scottish tourists are not getting value for money at a top Hong Kong hotel which is offering a lower exchange rate for Scottish pound notes compared to those issued in England, a news report said Monday.

Pounds issued by Scottish banks are being priced at 28 cents less than those issued by British banks at the Sheraton Hotel, despite the fact they are the same currency and it is only the issuing banks which differ.

The exchange rate has already angered one party of Scottish tourists and residents who wrote to the South China Morning Post criticising the hotel.

'It gives a very bad message to Scottish people arriving in Hong Kong,' said one Scot in a letter to the Post.

'Hong Kong has always had a close affiliation with Scotland and I am deeply offended that I find my country discriminated against,' she said.

The report says the Tsim Sha Tsui hotel's exchange rate board shows the two pounds as separate currencies displaying the Scottish pound as SCP with the Scottish flag.

The 'SCP' is displayed at a rate of 11.90 Hong Kong dollars per pound compared to 14.10 per pound for the English pound, a difference of 2.20 Hong Kong dollars or 28 US cents less.

But the Scottish pound was abolished in 1707 and since then the pound sterling has been used. However, three major Scottish banks issue pound sterling notes which are rarely seen outside Scotland.

The hotel declined to comment on the matter.