Mr DeKrey says that 'a genuine world city should seek diversity in its leadership composition'. Surely this argument must apply to the most powerful nation on Earth, where that nation's decisions affect a quarter of the world's population.

If the American system was more democratic and so many voters were not so parochial, the world would have no fear of another disaster called George W. Bush.

But it is unlikely given that questions were raised about the legitimacy of Senator John McCain as president, given that he was born in an American colony, in this case known as the Panama Canal Zone.

Perhaps the only way to improve democracy around the world is by linking suffrage to educational levels, in which case everyone who voted for Mr Bush the second time around should never be allowed near a polling station again.

Kevin McBarron, Central

Tsang needs a PR shake-up

Although I tend to agree with the stance of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen over the nationality and salary issues of those undersecretaries and political assistants, there is no doubt that the bad handling of the matter by the government is an unmitigated public relations disaster, which has allowed the controversy to spiral out of control and has had undesirable repercussions.

Mr Tsang should seriously consider replacing some of his aides - in particular those responsible for public relations. After all, these people, too, are paid with taxpayers' money.

Maggie W. C. Cheng, Quarry Bay

Naive not to see political fallout

The saga involving the new undersecretaries and political assistants is becoming increasingly interesting.

The openness and fairness in the selection procedure has been challenged.

At the beginning of the affair, the administration insisted that the undersecretaries should not be compelled to relinquish their foreign nationalities because the Basic Law does not require that. But, at the end, they all 'chose' to get rid of their foreign passports. During the debate, almost all political parties in Hong Kong and a few senior ex-civil servants said undersecretaries should not have foreign nationalities.

Also, to start with, the government refused to release details of the salaries of the new appointees.

Finally, however, there was a full disclosure and the chief executive had to make a public apology. These undersecretaries and political assistants are political appointments.

Therefore, the government should not just have been considering the legal dimensions - what is allowed under the Basic Law. It should have realised the political implications of what it was doing.

To taxpayers who pay these appointees' salaries, the idea of having another two layers of highly paid officials in the administration is a bad thing.

The fact that some of them would have been overpaid 'foreigners' would have made matters worse. Regarding the debate on the openness of the selections, the administration is in a no-win situation, because political appointments along party lines can never be fair and open.

John Ho, Tai Hang

'Asian values' exposed

Ian Buruma rightly points out the hollowness of 'Asian Values' ('The failure of 'Asian Values' ', June 11) vis-a-vis reactions to the recent calamities in China and Burma.

The pusillanimous stand taken by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations over the tragedy in Burma and China's big show of compassion for its own people once again highlights the debate over western-style democracy, which embraces philanthropy and Asian autocracy - which, these days, is learning to put on a more humane face.

Isabel Escoda, Lantau

American GIs a force for good

Nigel Ng is indeed correct in praising the valiant, continuing efforts of the PLA in the recent Sichuan disaster ('PLA far more noble than GIs', June6). They have done a commendable job.

Soldiers are trained to kill, but in times of disaster, they do serve as agents of relief. However, Mr Ng's inference that the US army is composed of 'trigger-happy soldiers' who kill innocent civilians and other soldiers in friendly fire does not paint a completely accurate picture. Yes, there have been mistakes, but the positive impact that US soldiers have had, both at home and around the world, are seldom reported by the media, because negative news sells. When the Indian Ocean tsunami struck in 2004, the US navy responded with materiel and troops.

US soldiers have entered many hostile environments over the years to deliver desperately needed food and medical supplies. Its military is building roads and schools in Afghanistan and Iraq and was willing to help the Myanmar cyclone victims. Whose soldiers have fought and died for the freedom of so many on this planet? Now, let's take another viewpoint: how did the PLA react on June 4, 1989, and more recently in Tibet?

A number of countries, not just the US, have generously spent untold amounts of money and human lives for the betterment of others. Though sometimes imperfect, they still deserve respect, honour and some gratitude.

James Warren, Tsz Wan Shan

Safe driving saves money

Suddenly, many drivers have stopped idling their engines.

It can only be because of one thing - the high price of diesel. This is good. But instead of embracing ways to lower their fuel costs, especially by driving within the speed limit and eliminating aggressive driving, the transport industry has responded by using its vehicles as weapons to threaten society and bully the government into lifting the diesel tax. Mini Spotters wishes to change that.

We have written to Chiang Chi-wai, spokesman for the Fuel Price Concern Transportation Joint Conference, who was quoted as saying that drivers were being 'crushed' ('Financial secretary hints at review over diesel taxes', June 11). We have offered free training to his drivers and free installation of black boxes to see how much fuel they have saved through better driving. We estimate drivers can reduce their fuel costs by 30 to 50 per cent just by following traffic safety laws.

We must all do our part to reduce pollution and, this way, we leave the tax in place as a financial incentive. Drivers save money and our streets will be safer. We look forward to a positive reply from Mr Chiang.

Annelise Connell, Mini Spotters