Rather, it should be noted that many e-mail administrators are already blocking countries indiscriminately in their own anti-spam efforts. I have seen a message advocating blocking of e-mail from Hong Kong because it is 'another spammy Asian country'.

Even more extreme, the American internet service provider (ISP) Verizon recently blocked all e-mail from many European and Asian countries.

Imagine a local firm that invests in a booth at an overseas trade fair. They collect name cards and follow up by e-mail, not realising that many of the messages are being silently discarded by overzealous spam filters. The firm's entire investment might be wasted.

To avoid this scenario, we need legislation that will be effective in shutting down spammers operating from Hong Kong. Mr Tsang also mentioned existing statutory measures that can help control spammers, but he did not mention the difficulties in current legislation. For example, the Telecommunications Ordinance prohibits the blocking of messages - does this mean that an ISP could be prosecuted for blocking spam or viruses?

There should be clearly defined criteria for when a service provider is permitted (or required) to block a message. These should probably include the use of fake sender's information, and content sent with malicious intent.

The idea of a blacklist of local spammers may seem attractive, but what would be its purpose? If it is to control spam that originates or is relayed locally, surely the preferred course of action is to use the law to shut down the operator. If it is to identify overseas sources of spam, then much wider co-operation is required, and the purpose would be better served by participation in the many international blacklist efforts.

Hong Kong already lags behind many other areas, including the US, Australia and the European Union, which already have anti-spam legislation. Our only advantage is that we can benefit from their experience.

Allan Dyer, Aberdeen

There are a number of advantages in writing anti-spam laws. It would draw a clear boundary between lawful and unlawful actions, raise people's awareness, and make businesses think twice before sending out spam.

Certainly, the enforcement of anti-spam laws would be difficult. The government should co-operate with other countries to achieve the maximum results because many junk messages originate from overseas.

Queenie Man Sin Tiang, Tsim Sha Tsui

Q Was the Town Planning Board right to reject the Mega Tower?

The decision was absolutely the right one. Developers such as Sir Gordon Wu Ying-sheung ought to understand that they cannot continue to take whatever they want from the community for their own interests without considering other very important aspects of Hong Kong's community life.

In this case, the traffic congestion, environmental damage, air pollution and visual pollution would have been too big a cost for the community to pay for the benefit of one developer. Hong Kong's big businesspeople, such as Sir Gordon, ought to rein in their incredible greed and adopt a more balanced approach to their businesses. I want to congratulate the Town Planning Board for a job well done!

Edward Tse, Wan Chai

The Mega Tower deserved rejection. As the board's spokeswoman said, the project 'was too massive', incompatible with neighbouring developments, provided unsatisfactory traffic arrangements, involved extensive tree-felling and featured inadequate provision of open space.

The proposed development flaunts planning guidelines and pays no heed to the density and height restrictions in the vicinity or character of the area. The Town Planning Board's remit is to strike a balance between competing demands for land and promote the right development in the right place and at the right time. Clearly, the Mega Tower did not fit the bill.

Roger Emmerton, Mid-Levels

On other matters ...

I write to thank Ajay Hira for the suggestions in his e-mail (February 22) about Cable TV's live cricket channels. We will take these suggestions on board and convey them to our partners in the channels.

With specific reference to the January 10 tsunami relief match, we regret that this match was not included in the schedule of our partners. As such, we were unable to offer it to our subscribers.

Garmen Chan, Cable TV

I was very angry to learn of yet another fatal traffic accident involving a government maintenance vehicle last week on Lantau. Such accidents have been a regular occurrence, yet I cannot see any improvements in terms of precautionary measures. Often, the distance between roadworks warning signs and the maintenance site is very short.

The huge vehicles which carry the redirection signs can themselves be a source of danger to oncoming vehicles. The warning procedure seems to have been set up by people with no concept of driving.

Fung Wai Sum, Pokfulam