I'm writing to express my concern over the increasing number of smoking young people in Hong Kong.
Nowadays, you can easily find boys and girls in their teens smoking in public places, even though smoking is forbidden in some restaurants and on public transport. The situation is even worse on crowded streets - you may have to keep an eye on the hands of passers-by, and of course, you have got to move fast enough to prevent your handbags and jackets from being burnt by cigarettes.
Schools, anti-smoking groups and the Government have all been working hard to publicize the hazards of smoking, but their efforts have shown little effect on youth. Recent surveys reveal that more and more teenagers are taking up smoking.
Surprisingly but sadly, many parents do not show any objection to their children's new habit, even if the parents do not smoke themselves. What kind of parental care is this? It is understandable that for smoking parents, it is difficult to persuade their children not to smoke. But how about those who don't smoke? Their ignorance and indifference on the problem imply nothing but their selfishness and apathy for their children.
I hope very much that those fathers and mothers who spend most of their time chasing after money could spare more time with their children, who are extremely in need of their love, care, support and guidance.
Cecile Kung
Tsim Sha Tsui
Staying with the Atte (that means indigenous) people, peasants in the highlands in Central Luzon, where there is no electricity, tap water, medical services and irrigation systems, I suddenly realized we have taken many things in our lives for granted.
When we talk about upgrading the quality of life, they are still struggling for basic survival. The Atte people however, are content if given a piece of land, no matter how hard life is in the highlands. They are even more liberal-minded and aware of their rights than us.
Moving northwards to Manila, I witnessed urban slum areas. Also deprived of basic facilities, the dwellers are helpless because most of them are jobless. Even those who have jobs are working in poor conditions.
During their fights for improvement in their deprived lives, they remain dignified and committed to the government. So are the staff from volunteer organizations and pressure groups, and so are the student volunteers we met.
Though the problems faced by Third World countries are different from what we have in Hong Kong, their positive spirits and tenacity fuel us with motivation and reflections.
Yip Pui Chi
Lok Fu
I would like to imagine that I am one of the applicants for the next vice chancellor's opening at the Chinese University. I would not like to have my information, not even my name, being leaked out to the public.
And indeed, Hong Kong University did experience a news leakage in the same matter just weeks ago.
Without any knowledge of personnel management myself, the reasons for my hesitation would be simple: (1) I am applying for a job and I do not want my present boss to know my move. It is my right and the duty for the prospective employer to protect my present job and to uphold my fidelity and trust with my present boss and colleagues until the day I actually resign. (2) I am not running for public office and thus I do not need to show everyone my credentials, and I trust the wisdom of the selecting body in matters to crucial to me as well as to them. (3) I simply do not want the world to know that my application is unsuccessful if a stronger candidate is selected instead of me. (4) If I am applying for one other job at the same time, I do not want my other prospective employer to know too much about my intentions.
Name withheld by request
Sha Tin
In early February, China Motor Bus announced it is selling its Wong Chuk Hang bus depot for a $379 million profit and keeping all the money for bettering services to the public. Not only is the act contemptuous of Government, it also
reveals CMB's disregard for public opinion.
Even though Transport Secretary Haider Barma said the Government can possess the assets of the bus company temporarily in case of emergency or revocation of a franchise, none of the administrative departments took follow-up actions. The government continues to grant new land to the company after they have sold one. Evidently, the passengers are going to pay for the government's passive attitude.
To tackle this problem, the Government planned to set up a "fare stabilization fund" so that the bus company can share the land sale profit with the public. Unfortunately, the Government later dropped its own plan by saying that it would only violate the free market in Hong kong. If the Government had respected the free market system, it would not have endured an almost monpolized situation for bus services without proper penalty.
Incompetence is always a drawback of our government, but we are the ones who pay for the cost. Situation will not be better if no change is made to the current franchise system.
Tang Suk Man Wong Tai Sin