Carve up the constituencies to make them truly representative of people in a smaller area. Maybe then my representative will be willing to listen to my interests and spend more time in my community.

Lawrance is also right to call for an end to the foolish voting by lists. But if the government insists on this divide-and-rule policy, at least give me one vote for each of the seven Legco members serving my constituency. In other words, I should be able to vote for seven candidates regardless of their place on any list.

Voting by lists is an insult to my vote by reducing it to a value of 20 per cent (with a list of five) when the votes of others count 100 per cent (a list of one). The voters would then determine who is at the head of the list rather than some backroom strategists.

JERRY JUERGENS, Ma On Shan

Wasteful consulting

When will this wasteful government put a stop to organising superfluous and expensive consultations?

An exercise is currently under way asking the public if raw sewage should no longer be pumped into Victoria Harbour. Who in their right minds would say no to that?

Now a survey is to be conducted to see if anti-discrimination laws to protect gays should be introduced. The government says it wants to receive a 'yes' answer from more than 50 per cent of the surveyed people before going ahead. That could defeat the intended purpose of such laws.

If anti-discrimination laws are necessary at all, then it is exactly because some members of the community have unfair or discriminatory views towards certain minorities. And probably most members of the community have no strong views on such subjects.

Enlightened governments provide a moral lead to their citizens by introducing laws to protect the rights of minority groups. Avoiding doing anything positive and attempting to cover up this indecision by announcing specious consultations, as happens in Hong Kong, abnegates a role of government.

NAME, ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Low credibility

With regard to the government's new bill on school management, one sympathises with Secretary for Education and Manpower Professor Arthur K. C. Li as he pushes on with the thankless task of implementing what can only be described as sensible, long overdue principles.

However, to depict widespread opposition to the bill as irrational or politically loaded would be to miss the point. Which is that the government has so lost credibility that every move it makes is suspect, regardless of merit. How this government hopes to function effectively for another 35 months boggles the mind. We are fast approaching Hong Kong's equivalent of Japan's 'lost decade'.

GAURANG THAKKAR, Central

Let's encourage exercise

A Hong Kong University study that found that 20 per cent of deaths of people aged 35 and above is attributable to a lack of physical exercise is a wake-up call for the city ('Life of inactivity 'more deadly than smoking'', July 4).

Hong Kong is not keen to foster a sports culture, resulting in grossly inadequate physical activity for more than half the people. Most Hong Kong people would put the onus on the lack of time. This is understandable, given the economic situation. Over-loaded workers, if they have a minute to spare, would rather sleep more.

However, young people spend their leisure time in karaoke, while older workers take to horse racing and mahjong. Those who patronise the gymnasiums belong to the minority of well-off executives and expatriates. Poor time management and misplaced priorities are the norm.

People are aware of the importance of regular exercise, but few take it seriously. For instance, in Hong Kong there are about 100,000 sufferers of osteoporosis, an illness that begins around the age of 35 when the calcium in our bones diminishes. One way to prevent and control it is exercise. But people are unaware of how to access exercise activities. Concerted efforts are needed to change indolent lifestyles, including:

Schools should go beyond the weekly physical exercise classes to educate students on the importance of continuing exercise when they leave;

Health, recreation and sports facilities should be widely publicised by the Hospital Authority and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, making use of their free air time in the media;

Non-governmental agencies should promote exercise that requires little space and facilities, such as jogging, cycling and muscle training; and

Health organisations could organise community campaigns to promote regular physical exercise.

Let's do more to jog Hong Kong's population out of their unhealthy physical state.

PATSY LEUNG, Mid-Levels

Dual citizenship for all

After reading 'Divided loyalties' (July 26), I would like to express my view on dual nationalities.

Why does the government turn a blind eye to Hong Kong-born Chinese holding more than one citizenship? When a foreign national wants to obtain citizenship and a passport of the Special Administrative Region (SAR), he has to renounce his current citizenship. I think it is a bit unfair. I have been in Hong Kong for 10 years and now realise that it is virtually impossible for me to obtain an SAR passport. No Thai national has ever succeeded in doing so because it is impossible to renounce Thai citizenship.

What's the big deal about dual nationalities? If it is a big deal, then let's make it fair for everyone - including Hong Kong Chinese.

BOBBY GERJARUSAK, Mid-Levels

Greater domestic threat

If Philippine President Gloria Arroyo withdrew her nation's troops from Iraq in order to save the life of one Philippine national, then what will she do if Muslim extremists in the south take a dozen foreign tourists as hostages and threaten to behead them unless their demands are met?

Angelo de la Cruz's life will be weighed against the lives of any future terrorist hostages in the Philippines. For him to say he was treated well is ridiculous; he was going to be murdered in cold blood with a video of his death available everywhere.

If life is sacred and murder an evil sin, then it is the militants or extremists who should be brought to justice. By giving in to their demands, President Arroyo opened a Pandora's box. She will surely live to regret her decision.

HARRY CHEN, Lai Chi Kok

Business redesign

I am very disappointed with the recent changes you made to the Business Post. I find the changes frustrating and confusing. The information is incomplete and difficult to find.

A few years ago, all the necessary information was found on the first page, then one moved to a page in the middle, but it was still convenient and interesting to find and read. Not so now.

JAMIL SHAH, Stanley