Instead of expounding their election platforms and addressing significant issues of public concern, candidates at the debate brought up trivial matters geared to vested self-interests.

Mud-slinging tactics and outdated incidents were used to smear opponents' personal backgrounds.

Encouraged by the hosts of the show, candidates, shouting at the top of their voice, interrupted each other and any point they were trying to make got lost. Cheered on by rowdy, jeering supporters, candidates tried to outdo their rivals.

The debate showed that the performance of both our politicians and media representatives leaves much to be desired.

At political debates in other countries verbal attacks launched at candidates are rational, tactful and constructive. While candidates may be at odds over certain issues, they show due respect for each other by letting their rivals have their say. Isn't that what democracy is about?

If the November 25 debate indicates the kind of Legco member to be elected, it certainly must have dampened the enthusiasm of some voters to take part in yesterday's so-called 'historical battle of democracy'.

Patsy Leung, Mid-Levels

Role of district councils unclear

More than a million people cast their votes in the district council election, and this considerable figure seems to attest to the healthy participation of our citizens in the running of the city. Or does it? While it is encouraging to see so many people performing their civic duty, I am not sure if the act of selecting district representatives is degenerating into a mere formality.

This time the government launched an impressive series of television and print advertisements to publicise the election; however, I cannot recall any recent event which caught the public's attention over the role or function of the council.

Previously a survey showed that youngsters knew very little about what district councillors do and I doubt that the voters understood the full range of responsibilities of the council either. This is perhaps a failing of both the government and the individual councils.

On the face of it, it appears many councillors are only involved in things such as the placing of bus stops or organising trips to amusement parks.

Is this all they do?

A less than well-informed general public cannot be considered as enjoying full participation in an election, and the common impression our district councillors only seem to deal with trivial matters may discourage talented people from standing for office.

Eric S. K. Mok, Pok Fu Lam

Economics does not a city make

I agree with those who argue world-famous cities are not rated on economic achievements alone. World-class cities are measured by more than just gross domestic profit or high-rise commercial blocks.

A city is comprised of many segments of urban evolution: its people and culture; its history; its physical location and economic activities; and its society etc. It is not realistic to assume a world-class city depends on pure economic achievements. No matter what kind of city it may be, a city has its own peculiarities and soul.

I attended the second Shenzhen-Hong Kong Co-operation Forum held in Hong Kong in August when urban planners, city administrators and academics met and exchanged views on the merger of Shenzhen and Hong Kong into an urban cluster. While it is understandable that it is wishful thinking to combine Hong Kong and Shenzhen into Greater Hong Kong or Greater Shenzhen and to complement each other, the economic, social, and cultural activities in the two cities are far from compatible.

In this case, one plus one may not equal two. The amalgamation process may take decades if not a century to come to fruition.

I would like to remind Chief Executive Donald Tsang and his administration - and their counterparts in Shenzhen - that a city needs hardware and software and it takes time for it to come together. It is not a straightforward situation of opening the border gates and letting the people flow through.

History shows that a 'metropolis' takes many years to come together.

Peter Ng, Sha Tin

Bag plan was well intentioned

The 'no plastic bag' campaign was a good first step by ParknShop to try to reduce the number of these bags we use.

Unfortunately the campaign was not well-planned and the company was ill-prepared for the response it got.

Public consultation is essential before a campaign of this nature is implemented. Under these circumstances, it is hardly surprising there was some criticism from the public, but I think it was unwise for ParknShop to give in to this opposition and terminate the campaign.

Critics focused on the lack of transparency regarding what would happen to the 20 cents paid for a bag. ParknShop should have made every effort to clear up any confusion on that score (the levy went to the Community Chest, 'Supermarket faces flak for U-turn on plastic bags', November 27) rather than scrapping the policy. It is a pity it lasted only a few days.

I hope ParknShop will continue to introduce pioneering campaigns but make sure that it does not confuse its customers.

Ng Yuk-wah, Lai Chi Kok

Memory loss

How disturbing it was to see James Tien Pei-chun defending the lavish pay packages of his predecessors and existing staff on the tourism board ('Tourism board hit for lavish staff spending', November 29).

Whilst I fully expected him to support his Liberal Party colleague Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee, I was, however, surprised to hear him say 'any organisation cannot unilaterally reduce the pay of any staff'.

Presumably Mr Tien has forgotten he voted three times in Legco to unilaterally cut police pay by way of legislation? Before he resigns his position, perhaps Mr Tien can explain his 'enlightenment' to the government so police officers can get their wages back.

D. A. Williams, Chairman, Overseas Inspectors' Association, Hong Kong Police

Parental care

Hong Kong is facing the trend of an ageing population.

This is seen as a problem for the whole of society and the main source of the problem is our low birth rate.

However, I do not see our ageing population as a crisis.

The real issue here is that in many cases there is no one to take care of the elderly. Many elderly people reach the stage where they cannot take care of themselves and they cannot afford the high cost of living in Hong Kong.

We should be educating children about the Chinese tradition of family loyalties. Sons and daughters should look after their parents.

There is no excuse for elderly people, who have children, to be left alone.

So Chun-kit, Tsuen Wan