The board says it is its established practice to rezone a site to reflect an approved use until the completion of the approved scheme in order to ensure that the development would be implemented in accordance with the approved scheme and the approval condition(s), if any, would be complied with. This explanation appears to be obtuse and to indicate that the site was only zoned open space in order to cap the height and introduce a pedestrian footbridge.

Are we therefore to accept that all sites zoned open space are merely temporary zonings to ensure that approval conditions are fulfilled?

Surely the function of the outlying zoning plan is to dictate the overall design plan for a district that controls density, height and provisions for at least the minimum open space per resident as required by law?

Moreover this waffle does not legitimise the fact that Hopewell Holdings was allowed to erect a 25-storey commercial building on a site zoned open space without a single government department involved in the approval process raising an objection.

When Legco winds up the Leung Chin-man inquiry involving possible favours to another developer, New World, it must immediately set up a panel to investigate the QRE affair.

The rezoning was very conveniently approved just days before the announcement that the developer had pulled out of the nearby Urban Renewal Authority Lee Tung ('Wedding Card') Street project. One of the reasons given for the rezoning was that there is sufficient open space in the area when the planned open space provision of not less than 3,000 square metres at that project is factored in. The Wedding Card Street project could now be 10 years down the line and can undergo radical changes.

So delay no more. An open and transparent town planning process is essential.

Candy Tam, Wan Chai

Disneyland trying its best

The spotlight has fallen on Hong Kong Disneyland amid reports that Disney intends to build a theme park in Shanghai. This has caused some people to panic and claim that the Lantau attraction has been a disaster.

I think Disney is doing its very best in Hong Kong.

Yes, there have been complaints, especially about the behaviour of some visitors. But this is the first time the company has built one of its theme parks in China.

The fact is that Chinese people behave very differently from westerners and sometimes we might be embarrassed by the behaviour of some individuals.

In a sense, the Hong Kong facility is being used as a guinea pig for China.

I think we have to stop whining and have a more balanced view of what Disney is trying to do.

We should back its plans for expansion and the efforts it has made with parades, shows and offers of discounts.

When we visit friends overseas, we should encourage them to come to Hong Kong and visit Disneyland.

Denise Tam, Kowloon Bay

Tourists put off by pollution

The Australian government has highlighted the levels of air pollution in Hong Kong as a potential threat to health in a new travel warning to its citizens ('City's air is bad for you, Australians told', March 25).

This move will certainly be a blow to Hong Kong's tourism industry.

Visitors from abroad must be taken aback by the evidence of pollution, when, for example, visibility is poor at Victoria Harbour or they see smoke belching from the exhausts of some vehicles.

I am concerned that because of this the number of visitors coming to Hong Kong will decrease.

We will have fewer people coming to popular tourist spots in the SAR and sales in shops will decline.

Therefore, we cannot just look at Hong Kong's air quality as simply a local issue.

The government has a responsibility to do more to improve the SAR's air quality. It must get drivers to switch to cleaner fuel and try and restore tourists' confidence in the Pearl of the Orient.

Chu Wai-shan, Sha Tin

We must heed air warning

Given the deteriorating air quality in Hong Kong it is no wonder that the Australian government sent a new travel warning to its citizens ('City's air is bad for you, Australians told', March 25). This move will adversely affect the SAR's tourism industry.

Tourism has long been one of our major sources of income.

The warning has come from only one country.

However, if we do not deal effectively with our pollution problems, other nations may follow suit and the city's tourism industry will be seriously harmed, which would be damaging given that we have a tourist-oriented economy.

We all have a responsibility as Hong Kong citizens to deal with this problem and help to reduce air pollution levels.

We face a difficult task, but we must work together to curb air pollution.

Chan Kit-ying, Sha Tin

Macau not alone

Joseph Cheng ('Macau ban as puzzling as it was irrational', March 23) and Frank Ching ('Disturbing signs in FCC controversy' March 24) may wish to note the following incidents and take up the cudgel with the appropriate authority.

The Dalai Lama was denied entry to South Africa on March 23 because, in the opinion of the South African government, his presence would confuse an anti-racism meeting held there.

A few days before, British Member of Parliament George Galloway was denied entry to Canada [for the sympathy he expressed for Hamas].

In February, Dutch MP Geert Velders was denied entry to Britain where he was to have given an anti-Islamic presentation.

On February 24, the British government vetoed an order by the Tribunal of Freedom of Information to publish the minutes of a cabinet meeting held in March 2003 on the legality of the invasion of Iraq.

Peter Lok, Chai Wan

Stop grumbling

The financial secretary announced an internship for fresh graduates in last month's budget speech.

Given the downturn in the economy, many people in Hong Kong do not have jobs. The internship is a good way to help new graduates who face the problem of finding work in the present economic climate. Some students have criticised the scheme, arguing that they will gain little from it and that the pay of HK$4,000 a month is too low.

However, that is not the right attitude to adopt.

They should try to look at the benefits the internship scheme will bring and not just concentrate on what they will be paid.

Tse Chin-wang, Lam Lai-hei, Kwun Tong