Mr To is a solicitor and if a client instructed him to commit an illegality he would decline based on professional integrity.

The same principle should apply to the building profession. Most homeowners will have little knowledge of construction engineering, and if they request the removal of a building element that is structural, the contractor should refuse, based on professional ethics.

This is compounded as in many cases owners employ interior designers - whose appreciation of buildings is only cosmetic - and have no comprehension that their instructions may be damaging the building's fabric.

The building contractor should be accountable if alterations are made that violate the building codes.

The 'minor works control system', recently introduced by the Buildings Department, should help tighten up this aspect of the industry and round up some of the building trade cowboys.

Roger Emmerton, Wan Chai

The wrong legal right to choose

I refer to the letters from Kerry Hasell and William Sim ('Fin debate is about people's choices - like them or not', January 28). They were in response to the article by Kirk Leech ('Celebrity shark's fin crusade leaves bitter taste', January 25).

I agree with Mr Sim that, as fin consumption is legal in Hong Kong, to do so or not is down to individual choice.

However, I suspect even the staunchest defender of such individual rights may agree that just because something is legal does not automatically mean it is right.

Slavery used to be legal in Britain. The member of parliament William Wilberforce exercised his right to speak out against it because he felt it was wrong.

Surely the point is that laws can change if enough people say why this must happen. Sometimes, people exercise their right to choose without understanding the impact their choices have.

If every person who is currently happy to eat shark's fin can honestly say they are fully informed, that they understand the harm caused, and they do not feel ashamed, then I am happy to accept that this is the society I live in, and there is no more I can do.

Until then, I will continue to argue that shark's fin consumption, like many things we do, is wrong, and the earlier the majority agrees, the sooner we can do something about it, legally.

David Wong, Pok Fu Lam

Dai pai dong are a link to the past

Sham Shui Po District Council will not loosen restrictions on dai pai dong licences.

I think dai pai dong food should be preserved. It is an authentic kind of cuisine that is unique to Hong Kong.

Although it is often considered a cause of littering, obstruction and noise, for many Hongkongers, especially the older generation, this food is part of our heritage.

In our hygiene-obsessed age, dai pai dong stalls are becoming extremely rare.

The fact is quite a lot of people still prefer to eat there because the food is cheap and delicious.

If the licence restrictions remain in force, then it is likely that these wonderful wok hei dishes will no longer be readily available.

Traditional street food will move indoors to premises in stores and shopping malls.

Some tourists enjoy the dai pai dong's traditional, special way of cooking simply because it truly reflects how Hong Kong was in the past.

If the dai pai dong are properly preserved in public estates and places like Temple Street, then visitors from abroad will frequent them and experience real local food. This would actually boost the tourism industry.

Eliza Sun, Tsuen Wan

Stub out street bin ashtrays

I agree with the views expressed by Lucas Lau Pak-ting ('It's time to beef up anti-smoking policies', January 23).

The pavements in Hong Kong are very narrow and crowded. We have a lot of restaurants and offices in Tsim Sha Tsui and other districts which observe the laws banning smoking. But, of course, what happens is the smokers congregate on the pavements.

This is very disturbing and presents problems for pregnant women, the elderly and young children.

In those areas on our streets where smokers are forbidden from lighting up, the law should be strictly enforced.

Ashtrays should be removed from the top of dustbins to discourage people from gathering around them with their cigarettes and forming a crowd.

Finally, there has to be more public education so people become aware of the effect their second-hand smoke can have on others.

C. Balani, Tsim Sha Tsui

Local input for surveyors' code

I was pleased to note your editorial ('Surveyors' code can benefit estate agents', January 27).

I am a chartered surveyor and a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors.

I can see the benefits of adopting the 26-page Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) guidance notes when it comes to the professionalism of our estate agents.

However, the RICS has no legal standing in Hong Kong, and endorsement and support from the Surveyors Registration Board and the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors must be sought.

Benny K. B. Kwok, Central

Tutorial centres stray from remit

I agree with Oprah Liu's letter on tutorial centres ('Tutors distort education', January 28).

There is a growing trend among Hong Kong students, particularly those at secondary school, to attend these centres.

However, the tutorial colleges have changed significantly from their original purpose.

They were designed to provide extra support to pupils falling behind in their studies. But now they are actually competing with schools.

Students involved in tutorials often stop paying attention during ordinary lessons because they know they can learn the same syllabus at their tutorial centre.

Therefore, they simply sleep or play around with other students and consequently disrupt the teaching process.

This a cause of growing concern among teachers in many schools.

Some tutorial centres are also photocopying exam or test papers prepared by schools and then re-distributing them to students taking a particular subject at their centre. The centres will offer the teenagers discounted fees in return for these papers.

They probably took teachers at these schools many hours to compile and yet the tutorial college just photocopies them.

Apart from being unethical, it also raises copyright issues.

However, very few schools take action unless the problem becomes very serious.

Apparently, the Education Bureau does not have the authority to interfere with these centres, unless their actions have violated the Education Ordinance.

Through their actions, the tutorial colleges are ensuring Hong Kong's education system is not as effective as it could be.

Samuel Chan, Sha Tin

Rise to society's challenges

At different times in our lives, we face challenges and hardships. This century is even more challenging than previous eras.

Young people have to recognise this and be well-equipped to meet these difficulties.

Some of them will be future leaders of society. They have to set appropriate targets for themselves and keep trying to strive for excellence.

They should equip themselves with the knowledge and skills required to meet those goals.

Education is the key to ensuring that they can do well in a competitive environment.

Teenagers must develop positive attitudes and strong characters. You read about teens who committed suicide because they were vulnerable and had failed to deal with the difficulties they faced.

I urge teenagers to recognise that they must develop lifelong learning attitudes so as to widen their horizons and keep up with the fast-paced society.

Leaders are not born; they develop. Teenagers need to recognise that they have a lot of potential.

If young people can fulfil that potential, then we will see the competitiveness of Hong Kong maintained.

Joey Chow, Kowloon Tong

Solutions take more than cash

Without even trying, Hong Kong has added three world hub accolades to its impressive list of recent achievements:

World hub for most overpriced poor-quality apartments;

World hub for turning off talent through bad air pollution; and

World hub for lack of affordable quality international school capacity.

All three of these problems could easily be dealt with by a government with some backbone, a lot of cash in its piggy bank and willingness.

One out of three is, however, not good enough.

Rob Grool, Quarry Bay