Talkback

What do you think of industrial safety in the city?

The accident at the International Commerce Centre on Sunday has highlighted public concern over safety measures at these construction sites.

If there are inadequate safety measures at workplaces, this can have serious consequences. At best, it causes a minor injury. At worst, a fatality. Workers in Hong Kong do not seem aware of the need to take the proper precautions. It is common to see them from street level working at great height without belts or a safety net.

Even when they work with a safety belt, I have noticed that it is not hooked to anything. Workers are trained in safe workplace practices. They have to get a licence before being allowed to work on a construction site. They can also learn about safety on the job. But they appear unwilling to put theory into practice.

The government must upgrade its safety courses and teach construction workers the importance of observing the rules. They should then be assessed to find out their level of awareness.

Andrew Lo, Ngau Tau Kok

How can sales tactics be better regulated?

I believe many of us have had the experience of salespeople asking us if we wanted to subscribe to pay-TV. Some of your readers have probably had the experience of someone knocking on their door and pretending that they were there to check if the television is working.

Once they get inside your flat, they start trying to sell you different subscription plans. You ask them to leave but they just keep talking until you get angry and order them out.

To prevent this, the government must act and regulate sales tactics. The relevant departments should employ supervisors to ensure the regulations are being obeyed and to check if any companies have adopted illegal practices.

If they receive complaints from the public, the supervisors should launch an immediate investigation. They must crack down on any sales tactics that contravene government regulations, which could act as a deterrent for those firms tempted to employ unprincipled sales tactics.

Ronnie Yim Yau-wun, Tai Wai

What do you think of vet clinics' services?

I always take great care of my dog, which I have had for two years.

Vet clinic services are inadequate. There is still a shortage. It is important, after they have qualified, for vets to keep abreast of the latest developments in their field. I am not sure all vets do this. I am also concerned about the charges at clinics in the city. If my dog had, say, a cold, it would cost me HK$1,000 for the consultation and medicine. That is about five times more than a human would pay. This difference in price is unreasonable.

I welcome the decision by Polytechnic University to run the city's first degree course in veterinary nursing. I hope it will lead to more professional pet nurses.

Lam Tung-fan, Sha Tin