When he is on visits and in such company, it is appropriate that he should stay in the presidential or royal suites of hotels to reflect the creditworthiness of Hong Kong.

The government has accumulated high surpluses over the years and, again, the accommodation he chooses should reflect that. After all, when he is abroad, he is trying to promote the city and get foreign investors to buy Hong Kong companies' bonds and shares and persuade businesses to open offices here.

It would be a sad departure from 'one country, two systems' if incoming chief executive Leung Chun-ying, when on trips abroad, was expected to fly economy class.

How can he impress foreign businesses if he arrives to meet top entrepreneurs as essentially a budget traveller?

If this happened, these businesspeople would probably decide they would rather deal with the central government for major transactions. Leadership would effectively pass to the mainland.

D. Kamlesh, Tsim Sha Tsui

Early signs of enjoying the good life

Hindsight invariably provides a stern look through spectacles which are not rose-tinted, and so it shall be for the actions of Donald Tsang Yam-kuen during his time as chief executive ('Quit calls as Tsang says sorry again', June 2).

What will history make of 'local-boy-made-good' Tsang's love for the high life, such as preferring the best luxury hotel suites during official trips abroad, and his dealings with tycoons like 'accepting lifts on their yachts and private jets for the price of a standard ticket'?

Let's go back to 2006, when Tsang first moved into Government House following extensive renovations that cost an estimated HK$14.5 million.

This included HK$200,000 for a new custom-designed fish pond to accommodate his collection of koi.

Could that have been taken as a warning sign of Tsang's attitude, integrity and reputation, which he himself has now admitted has 'fallen short of public expectations'?

Now that Tsang's term is ending, what will happen to his koi collection at Government House?

Will it be returned to its pre-2006 habitat, or will it be transferred to similar or even more upscale custom-designed surroundings?

The answer to this fishy question could be a sign of Tsang's real opinion about himself and the legacy he leaves regarding his own behaviour, actions and integrity.

Will Lai, Western district

Tarnished legacy a punishment

As condemnation of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen is renewed daily in the media, this is a request and reminder to our political 'players' of all stripes to exercise common sense and seek outcomes that are in the best interests of Hong Kong.

The reasonable objective should be limited to achieving a form of formal censure of Mr Tsang by Legco, if this is allowed under rules of procedure.

An impeachment process will only further increase the costs to the Hong Kong treasury in relation to Mr Tsang's financial improprieties.

Most importantly, the associated processes will divert governmental and public energy from, and prevent progress on, a host of other priorities.

The argument for impeachment is transparency and a suitable punishment.

In this respect, Mr Tsang's legacy appears irrevocably cast.

Notwithstanding decades of unblemished public service, he will be remembered for the excesses revealed in the past few months. This punishment alone, in my opinion, fits the crime.

Phillipe M. Moisan, Tsuen Wan

Proof that city is successful

I am a long-time Hong Kong resident and I am proud of this city.

When the chief executive travels overseas on official business, I expect him to represent Hong Kong as the vibrant, successful city that it is.

I would neither expect him to stay in the YMCA, nor to entertain commercial or governmental guests by inviting them to sit on the bed in his hotel room.

Maybe the critics should take a look at how New York's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, or the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, behave when they are on official business overseas.

I would want our chief executive's accommodation, when on such business, to reflect how successful Hong Kong is.

Peter Mallen, Pok Fu Lam

Split cost of flat-fare scheme

I think public transport operators and the taxpayer can share the cost of the HK$2 flat fare that will be available on the MTR network and buses to more than a million handicapped and elderly people in the city.

We have many handicapped and elderly citizens in need of help and so it seems fairer to share the cost of what will be an expensive scheme.

The transport companies must shoulder some responsibility, as they have been very profitable in this last financial year. Taxpayers also have to accept they have a responsibility to contribute to Hong Kong society.

Splitting the cost in this way sends an important message about the importance of helping other people who are experiencing difficulties.

In this way, we can help to develop a society that is less unfair and where social problems like the wide gap between rich and poor can be dealt with effectively.

Brittany Wong, Sha Tin

Dump sites could be transformed

Many people in Hong Kong still do not enjoy decent housing.

We have a number of dump and brownfield sites which could be redeveloped and provide more land for residential projects.

This would create the potential to construct a sizeable new town. It would provide housing and, with shopping malls, attract tourists.

This would provide more jobs for citizens and boost Hong Kong's economy.

I am convinced that this additional new town could make housing affordable for people who at the moment find flats are out of their reach.

Chan Tsun-ho, Sha Tin