They blow all of the air pollution north, back into the mainland.

For the next four months or so, as long as we get ourselves away from the tall buildings for a moment, we will be able to see those islands in the sea we had forgotten existed.

We will be able to see to the real horizon between sky and sea and we will see the air pollution index go down by anything from 15 to 40 points.

Even those people who choose to live among the traffic will see a similar reduction as the underlying blanket of air pollution, pushed down by the northerly winds which blow for the other seven or eight months of the year, is pushed back for the summer.

At this time of year it is most rewarding to get out, as often as the weather allows, into an area of Hong Kong where you have a vista wide and deep enough to see the effects of this change in the prevailing winds.

At the same time, you cannot help but wonder why it is that we are not doing anything about the air pollution that will return, as it does each year at the end of September, when the prevailing winds change again.

We lobby for reductions in vehicle emissions, complain about the type of oil used by ships as they visit Hong Kong and scurry around trying to tidy up things at the periphery of the problem.

However, as long as mainland air pollution is blown down here for two thirds of the year nothing much will change.

Indeed it seems to be as hard for Hong Kong to tackle the main source of the air pollution problem as it would be to change the prevailing winds to southerly all year.

Denis Williamson, Lamma

Not addressing waste problem

The administration has acted like the playground bully in the matter of its proposed extension of the Southeast New Territories landfill. Holding all the heavy weapons it has obtained a decision from the Country and Marine Park Board to proceed on extending the life of this landfill by excising some 5 hectares of country park, without, however, compensating for the loss of land area.

The Green Lantau Association supports the regrettably necessary extension while deploring the failure to adequately address our solid waste problem.

Unfortunately the pragmatism of green groups has not been matched by the administration. Having been belatedly obliged under pressure from green groups to exercise due process and formally excise the land, the administration is not restoring the balance by designating as country park, replacement land elsewhere.

In 1980 we had 21 country parks comprising 40,864 hectares, representing about 83 square metres for every citizen. Although today we have 24 country parks covering 43,394 hectares, the provision has dropped to 62 square metres.

It is against this background that we advocate with others, a 'no net loss' principle when it comes to sequestering country park land for truly needed infrastructure. We see this as a partnership between the administration and the community. Surely this approach which maintains harmony and balance and community acceptance is what good governance should be about.

Clive Noffke, Green Lantau Association

Global flu policy was flawed

I have read many letters in these columns congratulating the government for detaining the guests at the Metropark Hotel. No one seems to have questioned the implications of such powers or how they will be used next, allegedly for our own good.

What other powers do they have that we don't know about? Can they forcibly inoculate us? Nor has anyone questioned why, if we were so concerned about a pandemic, were travellers from Mexico ever allowed to leave in the first place. If the threat was as great as we were led to believe it would seem logical to try to isolate the outbreak at source. This never happened. So we had the biggest threat to world health in decades and you could still fly in and out of the country at the source of the outbreak.

Of course doing that would greatly affect many industries and so I suggest that our personal health came second to these considerations. If the SAR and other governments really want to protect us in the future, perhaps they could try closing the proverbial barn door at the first sign of trouble.

Gareth Jones, Sheung Wan

Tsang should be more careful

I refer to the report ('June 4 is history. I speak for HK, says Tsang - then has to apologise', May 15).

I think that June 4 was a major event in the history of China.

The students who were injured or killed were dissatisfied with the central government.

They wanted to see greater democracy in the country.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen should have tried to understand the feelings many Hong Kong people have regarding June 4. He must not have assumed he spoke for 7 million Hong Kong people.

In future Mr Tsang should think before he speaks. He should be more careful with his choice of words and consider what effect they will have on Hongkongers.

Lorraine Tong, Kowloon Tong

Flexible rules on open spaces

I believe that when it comes to the use of open spaces in Hong Kong, the authorities need to be more flexible with their policies.

Often when I walk past the park in my neighbourhood I see elderly people singing and dancing.

The open spaces that exist in Hong Kong should be designed for leisure activities.

I do not think that any complaints against such activities can be considered reasonable.

Draconian rules will only discourage people from using the facilities that are available.

We need to establish more open spaces for the public and we must ensure that the rules relating to the use of these spaces are more flexible.

Ada Chan, Sha Tin

Curb molesters

Incidences of sexual molestation are increasing. This is an issue that needs to be addressed by the MTR Corporation in order to protect its passengers.

The penalties for anyone found guilty of molesting a passenger should be increased.

I think the MTR Corporation should deploy plain-clothes staff to monitor the behaviour of passengers in its carriages. Also each train should have one women-only carriage.

Kira Au, Sha Tin

Well treated

I refer to the letter by W. M. Lam ('Left in the lurch by Cathay', May 15), taking issue with my letter ('Cathay is the pride of HK', May 11). I was sorry to learn about your correspondent's experience and the complaint regarding the airline's policy of taking care of business and first class passengers first.

As I said before I am very satisfied with the airline. Earlier this month my wife was travelling to Toronto, Canada, with Cathay and was upgraded from business to first class.

Eugene Li, Deep Water Bay