Taipei- Taiwan's Tourism Bureau plans to fine a local travel agency after three Chinese tourists disappeared while visiting the island, the Central News Agency (CNA) said Saturday.

The three Chinese went missing on a unspecified date - probably seeking to stay in Taiwan or to go on to other countries - from a hotel in Taoyuan near Taipei on the second day of their tour in Taiwan, CNA said.

The Sightseeing Travel Service, which was in charge of the tour group, reported their disappearance to the Tourism Bureau on June 19.

As the three Chinese tourists have not turned up yet, the Tourism Bureau plans to fine the company 200,000 Taiwan dollars (6,000 US dollars) for negligence, plus 200,000 Taiwan dollars for each missing tourist.

Taiwan and China are still political enemies, despite the fact that as early as 1987, Taiwan allowed its citizens to travel to China for family reunions, sightseeing and business.

Taipei continued to bar mainlanders from entering Taiwan for security reasons, but it gradually loosened the ban to allow in mainland artists, athletes and academics.

In recent years, Taiwan has allowed Chinese groups to visit Taiwan as part of their overseas tours.

Such groups come to and from Taiwan via Hong Kong or Bangkok as there are still no direct air links between Taiwan and China.

But on July 4, Taiwan will fully open its doors to Chinese tourists by allowing groups to arrive on the island on weekend charter flights.

Since Taiwan allowed Chinese tourists to detour to Taiwan while on overseas sightseeing trips in 2002, 119 Chinese tourists have left their groups to seek to work in Taiwan or go to a third country, CNA said.

Out of these 119 Chinese tourists, 94 have been caught and deported to China while 25 remain missing. (dpa)