Jason R. Ali, Sheung Wan

The short answer to your question is, of course it will. Do the parties to these decisions never evaluate the cause-and-effect scenarios before implementing such increases?

No one disputes that the tunnel operators must have a return on capital to finance future projects, but surely it would be in the government's and users' best interests if all cross-harbour tunnels had a uniform charge structure.

This would then mean that drivers would choose a tunnel based not on its cost but on how it suited their journey, thus offering a solution to serious congestion.

Alistair Watson, Kennedy Town

This latest toll increase should not have been allowed, as it will definitely affect traffic flow between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It will also increase traffic in the Cross-Harbour Tunnel.

The Cross-Harbour Tunnel is overused because of its location and low toll fees compared with the other two tunnels.

It should charge more, relative to the other two tunnels. This would help reduce its own traffic and spread vehicles to the other two tunnels.

The government should intervene and take charge of the unfair tolls charged by the other tunnel operators.

I see two options.

Set the Eastern Harbour Crossing charges at the same level as the Cross-Harbour Tunnel's present toll fees. This will more evenly distribute traffic in both tunnels. The Western Harbour Crossing's tolls should be reduced by 30 per cent to increase its share of traffic flow, especially to the airport, Tsuen Wan, Disney and other parts of Lantau.

Alternatively, have uniform charges on all three tunnels. This would achieve long-term benefits by easing traffic flow and congestion, saving travelling time and cutting down on fuel consumption and pollution.

Umesh Kalro

Q Should the government increase funding for fertility treatment?

This seems the only possible way to boost the declining birth rate in Hong Kong.

Many people have long working hours in Hong Kong, so couples are getting married later and later.

They tend to form nuclear families with just one child, and after that first child, many will be past their prime child-bearing age.

Other couples simply don't want children.

The government is right to raise public awareness of this problem and to promote and assist in providing fertility treatment to couples who require it.

Diana Wong On-yi, Tseung Kwan O

On other matters ...

I recently read with interest about the required appointment of hygiene officers by food companies in Hong Kong.

I fully believe that this is cosmetic and unnecessary. It also will be costly.

A few hours of lessons on food hygiene will not turn a person into an expert.

It takes at least three years for a person to be trained as a food technologist at a college or university.

Through my experience as a food assessor I have found that the only way for food companies, manufacturers or restaurants to adhere to the hygiene regulations is by implementing an auditable food-safety management system, such as an International Organisation for Standardisation system.

This would be certified by credible third-party certification bodies.

Upon certification, surveillance visits at defined intervals would be carried out to ensure/enforce that the food-safety system is properly implemented and managed.

A third-party audit would be ideal for ensuring proper management of the food-safety system.

Implementing a food-safety management system would increase awareness among food firms of potential hygiene hazards (for example, physical, chemical or microbiological contamination), critical control points and general control measures of their processes. Thus, the level of food hygiene could be improved gradually.

I should add that it is almost impossible to ensure overnight the full regulatory compliance of food products, as Asia has a culture of searching for tasty foods rather than safe foods.

Therefore, education, awareness and subsequent enforcement through assessment by third-party certification bodies would be the best way to educate and guide food operators in ensuring food safety.

I was taken aback that most food companies in Hong Kong are not certified by the International Organisation for Standardisation with regard to quality management or food-safety management.

In Malaysia and Thailand, good food-safety management helps to eliminate or reduce safety risks and is a common practice to gain the confidence of consumers and regulatory bodies.

Tang Pack Loon, Selangor, Malaysia

Hong Kong has remained one of the safest cities in the world because of the efforts and contribution of its police force. This is widely recognised by the public.

It saddened me to hear that a police constable sustained a head injury at work after being struck by a falling brick in Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, on the evening on February 24 while handling a traffic incident.

We have Teachers' Day on September 10 and Nurses' Day on May 12 to recognise these professions' important roles and contributions. May I suggest the government should establish a Police Day to enhance the professional status and public appreciation of the police force? It would certainly create a good and healthy image for police and boost morale among officers.

Barry Kwok Tak-ming, Wong Tai Sin