If Lee Kuan Yew's idea of a street-fighter is someone who keeps litter, cigarette butts and gum off the pavements, then I am all for it ('HK needs a street-fighting chief, says Lee Kuan Yew', March 31).
But I suspect he means someone who uses oblique administrative means to suppress dissent and stifle genuine opposition. With no apologies to Margaret Chu ('A Chinese chief par excellence,' March 26), Lee Kin-san ('Criticism of Patten reflected view of many in HK') or Bernard Chan in his column 'The price of populist policies' (April 1), Chris Patten got it right when he stated: 'In Hong Kong, people are given a great deal of freedom to get on with their own lives. I sometimes get the impression that in Singapore people are advised if they want to stay rich and prosperous, then they better listen out for instructions.'
The only lesson acting Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen needs to take from Mr Lee is how to sharpen his ministers' drive and decision-making. Presently we have a secretary for justice with a knee-jerk reaction in soliciting the views of mainland legal experts; a financial secretary who dilly-dallies on the prudent step of broadening the tax base; and a secretary for environment, transport and works who holds no view on a toll increase at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel ('Tunnel toll rise 'best way to beat congestion,'' March 29), despite the fact that the congestion here continues to clog the road network and has been a community issue for a long time.
ROGER EMMERTON, Mid-Levels
Sacrosanct constitutions
Within established democracies changes to the constitution are not taken lightly. Arbitrary changes by government are illegal and random changes by unelected officials unthinkable.