Instead of providing double benefits, the funds raised from employers may better be applied to cover employers' litigation costs and damages in cases caused by problematic maids.

It should also be used to provide temporary replacements to assist employers whose maids have taken off without leave or have been dismissed for misconduct.

The government should also consider the liberalisation of Hong Kong's job market to admit maids from the mainland and apply the fund to the training of these maids.

Anna Tse, Mid-Levels

India not the worst at discrimination

It so happened that the publication of the article headlined, ('Pride not prejudice', July 22) coincided with the completion of my reading of The Conquest of America - How the Indian Nations Lost their Continent, written by Hans Koning.

It amused me to read S. Anand saying he wanted to take India to the United Nations for its 'treatment' of the dalits (untouchables). Does Mr Anand realise that in the world's most powerful nation, the United States, the conditions of native Americans is still pathetic.

Mr Koning detailed that, for example, in the 1950s and 1960s the life expectancy of a white man in the city of Minneapolis was 68, but for a native American it was just 37 years.

Does Mr Anand know that it was only in 1978 that the United States government started protecting the religious rights of the indigenous people through the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Compare this with the Indian state, where since independence in 1947 the government has been providing quotas for listed castes (ie. dalits) and listed tribes - sometimes as much as 23 per cent - in all educational institutions and the civil service.

The Indian government, no matter which political party has been in power, has always protected the rights of the poor and weaker sections of society, and any rare cases of injustice have been firmly dealt with.

I have studied at schools and colleges in India, and never saw anyone being discriminated against because of their caste or religion.

If the term 'genocide' should ever be applied, it should be used against the British, the Americans, the Spanish and the Portuguese who killed 90 per cent of the original inhabitants of North and South America and succeeded in almost destroying their cultures. The vast majority of the land that was forcibly snatched from the indigenous people of the US has still not been returned to them.

Is the UN listening, or when it comes to the US has it developed hearing problems?

Kishore Sambwani, Pok Fu Lam

Students at fault in English learning

Mo Kin-sang has suggested that the government should do more to create a better English-learning environment for students ('We must focus more on improving English skills', July 15).

I think that the Education Bureau, schools and teachers have done a fantastic job in helping students learn English.

They should not be blamed for the decline in English proficiency. Almost every school in Hong Kong has a native English-speaking teacher.

Also, there are lots of English-related activities held in schools - such as English weeks, at which students are required to use English at school throughout the week - English debating and English drama. Apart from that, school libraries and English corners also facilitate learning English.

As you can see, there are many opportunities for students to learn English. However, students fail to appreciate them.

They do not have the same positive attitude to learning as mainland students.

They do not bother to listen to the language or to read, write and speak English, unless forced to do so by their teachers. Students living in rural parts of the mainland are able to master English through their own initiative.

It is up to Hong Kong students to take the initiative when it comes to learning English, and start studying and learning on their own accord.

There are so many opportunities open to them that should not be squandered.

Cheung Ko-chi, Tseung Kwan O

Some more equal than others in meritocracy

In ('Universal franchise not the best way forward', July 22), Derek Sankey says that what matters most in a civilised society is not universal suffrage, but 'universal freedom of speech' - that's right, I can say what I think, but if it continually falls on deaf ears what is the point of that?

That is a recipe for frustration and builds civil unrest further down the line. He also talks of 'some form of democratic meritocracy' as being best for Hong Kong. How, may I ask, is this going to take shape?

It sounds to me as if some are more worthy of a say in government than others.

Jennifer Eagleton, Tai Po

Pan-democrats fall into green paper trap

It would appear that the pan-democrats have allowed themselves to fall into the biggest trap in the green paper consultation on political reform.

They seem to accept that a nominating committee is necessary. The 'nominating committee' should be the people of Hong Kong, not 800 or 1,200 hand-picked 'loyalists'.

Many democratic jurisdictions have rounds of voting with progressive elimination, resulting in a candidate with broad support.

One acknowledges the sovereign power's right of veto, but this should be employed, if necessary, after the election and not by pre-empting the candidates.

Hong Kong people are mature and are unlikely to elect a totally unacceptable candidate. We want someone who will serve Hong Kong's interests best, not a wild radical.

Of the options set out in the green paper, government seems to brush aside the 'least worst' option of having the elected legislators forming the nomination committee. This is the de facto situation of many democratic countries.

Jeremy M. Barr, Kowloon City

Wireless society an environmental threat

MTR passengers will be the first in the world to get wireless access to the internet on underground trains through a Wi-fi network. I am writing to express my view on this constant connection.

In the hi-tech century of today, wireless access to the internet on trains is unavoidable.

This connection helps build Hong Kong as a cosmopolitan and hi-tech city. Businessmen will be able to keep in contact with their customers online while travelling on trains.

On the other hand, I am worried that it may intensify the busy lifestyle of Hong Kong people. While our city is moving towards becoming a wireless one, people may shift to using notebooks and dump their desktop computers. This would certainly create environmental problems.

Leung Lai-ha, Ngau Tau Kok