Talkback

What do you think of the nude photos scandal?

This scandal has left me really disappointed in the moral standards of young people.

As for the young stars involved, I don't think they should treat sex so lightly. Sex before marriage is leading to an increasing number of single parents. Most likely, these are young people who are not ready for such responsibility. These unwanted babies are one of the main causes of child abuse.

These idols are role models for teenagers. Through their actions, they should teach young people to protect their bodies. For the young public, seeing these photos could contaminate their minds. Even worse, they may try having sex out of curiosity.

I think the people who uploaded the photos showed no concern for those affected, no matter whether they were pop idols or ordinary citizens. I urge people to stop uploading such photos, to show respect to everyone.

Sex education is lacking in our society. But we should treat sex seriously even when taking an open attitude towards it. An open attitude does not mean a casual one. We need to think before having sex, which causes a lot of problems if we have it without any consideration.

Kwan Wai-ching, Kwun Tong

I want to make it clear that even though I believe in freedom of expression regarding all things, including the internet, I also believe that if a parent wants to install software to stop their children receiving obscene material, they should do so.

There should be sex education courses in all schools. Perhaps by attending these courses our teenagers will get the proper information. Teenagers are curious and want to learn as much as they can about all things. If there was proper sex education in schools they would still be curious, but knowledge is power, so they might not search the internet as much.

Michele Kalish, South Bay

Should repeat animal abusers be barred from owning pets?

As a veterinary student studying in Britain, there is a marked difference there in terms of animal welfare when compared with Hong Kong. Many of the animal abuse incidents I see in 'Asia's World City' are simply unacceptable, and it saddens me that some people still take them lightly and even regard them as a fact of life.

Although the situation is improving, there is still a tremendous amount the government can do to improve animal welfare, and by that I'm not just referring to dogs and cats - I'm including exotic animals (i.e. hamsters and reptiles) and even those wandering stray cows.

Educating people (including children) in proper animal husbandry and handling is more important than we think, and many cases that I see in veterinary clinics are due to the misconceptions of owners, from improper feeding (puppies and kittens are often underfed) to casually giving human medications to pets (like paracetamol).

Yes, these are not the most gruesome things that often appear in the newspapers, but it is more common than people are aware. The government needs to work closely with vets and animal rights groups, and not just sit on their backside until they are up to their neck in protest letters. Even simple information leaflets would be a great start.

And then there are the pet shops. I have lost count of the number of sick animals I have seen in these places. The joke that street animals are probably healthier than those in pet shops is often not far from the truth. There needs to be stricter legislation over welfare standards in these shops, as well as restrictions on what they can do, such as dispensing medication and docking tails of puppies.

Betty Chow, Edinburgh

How can the decline of Tai O be reversed?

Many people have left Tai O because of its poor transport network and lack of community facilities.

Unlike, say, Cheung Chau, Tai O is far from urban areas and commuting time is at least two hours, which is a big inconvenience to residents when they go to work or school. So improving transport links between Tai O and the rest of Hong Kong is vital. Moreover, travel subsidies should be given to people who live in Tai O, but work elsewhere.

Facilities like swimming pools and medical clinics are hardly seen in Tai O, but these are necessary to build up a community. For instance, most adults are educated in urban districts and most likely they will send their children to these districts too because of the lack of quality schools in Tai O. This is why some people prefer moving to urban districts, hindering the growth and development of the fishing village.

Most importantly, better-equipped clinics would mean residents would not have to take a ferry to see a doctor.

Isa Shek, Kwun Tong

On other matters ...

As a professional community worker who works with released inmates, single elderly people, racial minorities and new arrivals, I wish to complain about your article on Page C1, December 17, headed, 'Established fund-raisers cry foul; charities upset at soundalike operators'.

In the article, your reporter, Sherry Lee, who interviewed me in December, states that the Hong Kong Community Services Association (HKCSA) also operates two other charities that have been granted fund-raising permits - the Hong Kong Community Development Network (HKCDN) and the Hong Kong Young Sprout Environmental Protection Association (HKYSEPA). The HKCDN was founded in 2000. The HKCSA was founded in 2005. The HKYSEPA was founded in 2006.

It is therefore impossible for the HKCSA to operate the HKCDN and the HKYSEPA. The HKCSA, the HKCDN and the HKYSEPA are independent of each other.

James Lung Wai-man, chief executive, Hong Kong Community Development Network