The law is failing to curb repeat offenders.

Why is it that someone who is found guilty of such an offence - especially if as a consequence of their actions, someone died - is ever allowed to drive again?

The right to drive should be given only to those who are responsible enough, and definitely not to those who abuse such rights.

I believe the penalties meted out to drink-drivers should be increased. At the very least, they should receive a life ban from driving, with a minimum term of 10 years' imprisonment.

It is very disheartening to see the government talking about trying to curb drink-driving and yet the law as it exists is proving ineffective.

It is sad enough that lives are taken by drink-drivers and their irresponsible actions; it is even sadder when the penalties they receive are in no way comparable to the lives they take.

Wilson Ko, Central

Legislators must pass tougher laws for people found guilty of drink-driving.

When I am in the US, I dare not go out during Christmas and New Year because drunk drivers are everywhere. The situation is made worse on the east coast by inclement weather.

The response of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen to the accident near the Lok Ma Chau border crossing in which six people died was unacceptable, especially given the plea for action from a relative of one of the victims ('Mr Tsang, you have to help us. You are the head of Hong Kong', January 24). Here was another public relations failure.

It was difficult to wish everyone a happy new year after such a heart-breaking accident.

Alpha Keung, Sai Wan Ho

The horrorific accident at Lok Ma Chau has highlighted an important issue concerning protection for employees ('Police alarm over rise in drink-driving', January 25).

The families of the victims who lost their lives are not entitled to employee compensation because accidents that occur on the way to work do not happen 'in the course of employment'.

Only if workers are on a shuttle bus provided by their employer are they entitled to compensation. Is such a law fair and reasonable? When should the working day officially commence?

It is clear the victims only got into the taxi because they wanted to get to work.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung has said it is impossible to ensure protection for every situation, but I cannot accept this argument.

Ways can be found by officials to ensure workers get better benefits, for example, with higher insurance premiums. There should be a public consultation to decide if this can be done.

The law as it stands is not effectively protecting employees in this regard and I would urge the government and legislators to review it before more people are unnecessarily affected.

H.C. Bee, Kowloon Tong

Should the smoking ban be further delayed?

Callan Anderson made some excellent points in his letter (Talkback, January 23) which I hope the government and anti-smoking lobby will consider.

Then to my disbelief, I turned the page to see the government will once again grant cigarette hawkers operating licences ('Illegal cigarette hawkers likely to get operating licences soon,' January 23).

Let me get this right; we are going to ban smoking in bars and restaurants while at the same time increase the number of licensed businesses selling cigarettes.

What is the point of that?

Marcus Langston, Lamma Island

On other matters ...

The whole argument over the rights of employers and domestic helpers could be settled once and for all if people like Prakash Mahbubani (Talkback, January 23) conducted a poll to find out which side commits the most misdemeanours - and even crimes.

Local non-governmental groups like the Mission for Migrant Workers and Helpers for Domestic Helpers, among others, can show him the huge number of cases over the years of employer maltreatment of their helpers, many of which are out-and-out violations of human rights.

Mr Mahbubani decries the 'constant outpouring of sympathy towards domestic helpers' and mentions cases of theft by maids, child maltreatment and unpaid phone bills and loans.

But has he never heard of the incessant cases of overworked maids given only leftovers for meals, not given a day off each week, not given a rest period during the day, being insulted as stupid and lazy, and a slew of other abuses too numerous to mention?

L.M.S. Valerio, Tin Hau

I am writing to express my concern over train temperatures on the MTR Corporation's Island Line, which I find uncomfortably warm.

Surely when it is so needlessly warm, this can help spread ailments like flu.

I find temperatures on carriages on the Island Line warmer than those on the East Rail, West Rail, or Tung Chung lines. I think this is because of the huge number of passengers and the inadequate air-conditioning system on that line.

I urge the MTR Corp to try to rectify this situation and set the temperature on its Island Line trains at 22 degrees Celsius. Environmentalists have urged large companies like the MTR Corp to opt for a temperature of 25.5 degrees, but I disagree with this recommendation, which I consider to be illogical and unreasonable.

It could be argued that setting the temperature at 22 degrees helps to aggravate global warming.

However, it could also be argued that if the Island Line were more comfortable, more people living on Hong Kong Island would choose to use the train rather than travel by private car.

Kwok Kai-heng, Chai Wan