Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa should be commended for placing Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen in charge of helping to clean Hong Kong and spruce up its image for the world.
This is no small task and should be given utmost priority among all divisions of government. It is time for the different departments to stop talking with one another and get on with what needs to be done for the betterment of this city.
Hong Kong needs a quick change in philosophy and mindset in order to accomplish the tasks needed to improve our image. Some of the tasks must be carried out without delay. And the great news is that they can be done immediately with very little cost involved.
People are demanding a better living environment. Our satisfaction with such improvements will do wonders for our global image as we tell our friends and family that Hong Kong is a 'new' city and worth visiting again.
Among the quick changes that need to be made involve the licensing of outdoor dining.
There is a major contradiction in the government's approach to food handling in this city, which does nothing to help both the impression and the reality of cleanliness here.
It is very common to see raw meat dripping blood on to the road as it is transported through our streets and markets - yet you cannot dine outdoors in Hong Kong.