Therapy with dolphins should not be allowed
Your sentimental article about Shenzhen's dolphin-assisted therapy programme (Hope Floats, Post Magazine, December 17) is deeply disturbing, not to mention irresponsible, especially at a time when Ocean Park is talking of providing more captive animals for our 'entertainment'.
Keeping dolphins captive is a very controversial issue in general, and using them for therapy programmes makes it even more contentious. It is not difficult to find solid arguments against these practices - the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society website explains the well-known arguments against this. Its statement as to why swim-with-the-dolphin (SWTD) programmes are not advisable is further clarified by many parties, such as the Humane Society of the US' report on marine mammals in captivity: 'SWTD programmes do not educate the public, they exploit both dolphins and people.' The evidence in favour of pet-assisted therapy far outweighs the anecdotal and unscientific evidence offered by SWTD programmes - activities such as Animals Asia's Dr Dog programme have far more value than some wholly misguided notion that dolphins in captivity are happy to help humans.
Dolphins are beautiful, intelligent creatures worthy of our respect - they are also predators who have been known (more often than is reported) to bite and bruise SWTD participants.
Instead of wondering what they can do for us, we should ask what we, destroyers of their habitat, can do for them. We believe SWTD should be prohibited.
JANET WALKER, Hong Kong Dolphinwatch
Rich pay little tax
The goods and services tax proposal is beaten, government income is higher than its expenses, yet Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen keeps whining that we need a broader tax base. Instead of looking at the low-income group, which does not pay or pays very little tax, perhaps we should focus on the top-income group, which does not pay or pays very little tax.
As many of our tycoons like to publicise their good deeds with donations to universities and so on, maybe we can also publish a list of how much - or rather, how little - tax they pay.
Mr Tang, why don't you tax your friends like Henderson Land boss Lee Shau-kee?
He thinks HK$100 million for a wedding party and HK$400 million in gifts for his new daughter-in-law's family is 'a small sum' ('Mogul's son crowns his kingdom with a princess', December 16), while people live in rundown public housing like Shek Kip Mei Estate for the better part of their lives because the average blue-collar worker cannot afford to buy a decent property. ('A hundred stories', Post Magazine, October 29).
This is because moguls like Mr Lee and others have been filling their pockets off the average man's back.
JEFFRY KUPERUS, Clear Water Bay
Extreme measures
By advocating a smoking ban on busy streets ('Smoking ban urged on busy streets', December 17), Anthony Hedley, a professor, is, in his own words, 'Stalinist-like'.
As a non-smoker, I am looking forward to a smoke-free dining environment from next month. But I oppose additional curtailments on smokers. The enforceability of curbing smoking in overhead walkways and underpasses is highly questionable. Suggesting such measures implies a misguided soul, rather than an intellectual from a well-known university.
Smokers are already dealing with an unhealthy habit that is hard to break and don't need us to treat them like pariahs. The last time I checked, tobacco was still a legal substance in Hong Kong.
These measures would only breed resentment and more rebellion. To reduce the number of smokers, education is key, not forced restraint. If cigarette smoke bothers you in the street, move in front of the smoker.
JACK TEH, Clear Water Bay
Sevens tickets letdown
When the organisers of the Hong Kong Sevens made radical changes to the ticket sale system, I don't think they anticipated what it would mean for loyal, long-term Sevens fans.
Effectively, it has made it all but impossible to obtain tickets unless you have an association with big business in the city or are involved with a local rugby club.
As a family we've been coming to the Sevens for more than 20 years. My sons grew up in Hong Kong and learned their rugby at Kai Tak mini rugby in the 1980s. Since leaving the city in 1990, we've returned on a regular basis for a wonderful weekend of rugby, fun and the chance to catch up with old friends.
This year was to have been something of a special event in that we had planned a family reunion (daughter and partner now living in Sydney flying up to meet her three brothers and their wives, and parents) and the first introduction to the Sevens for our grandson.
The air tickets had all been purchased in good time (non-refundable) and we had made the usual arrangements with friends to buy our rugby tickets. Alas, the tickets were sold out in no time and we were unsuccessful.
I do not know how well the changes to the system were advertised in Hong Kong (there was no mention in the recent advertisement in the Post, for example, that only 6,000 tickets out of a possible 40,000 were to go on sale to the general public), but it certainly wasn't well publicised outside the city.
Had we known, we could have postponed buying the air tickets until we were sure of having rugby tickets.
Needless to say - if any of the sponsors - or, indeed, any kind soul - still has tickets available for sale, we would snap them up and be eternally grateful!
CAROL SCUDAMORE, Thurlaston, England
Christmas cheer
I'd like to join letter writer Rennie Marques in congratulating the people behind the plan for a new tramline along the harbour waterfront between Sheung Wan and Central ('Right track for trams', December 17).
The news these days seems to be so negative - for once, we appear to have something positive.
I think everyone will rally behind the proposal, and it might go some way to mending the divisions in our community that recently came to a head with the Star Ferry pier demolition.
Christmas really is a magical time of year and the timing of the announcement could not have been more appropriate.
Let's hope that 2007 brings us more good news.
JASON ALI, Sheung Wan
Post Magazine good read
I work on a container ship which regularly berths at the Kwai Chung container terminal. I always enjoy coming into and sailing out of Hong Kong, particularly at dawn and twilight, when one can appreciate the full glow of the city.
In one of your newspapers from last month, I found a Post Magazine and, on flipping through the first few pages, thought it was all advertising and left it at that. On the long voyage across the Pacific, I was looking for something to read to kill time and picked up this magazine again. What a wonderful surprise. I was totally engrossed reading about the acrobats of China and the NGO, Habitat for Humanity, the James Bond movies that I like so much, and Steve Irwin's daughter.
Now I will insist on getting this magazine whenever I'm in Hong Kong.
UPPILI KANNAN, CSCL Oceania
