There have been numerous close-quarters situations and collisions in the vicinity over the recent years. When there is fog this route is often closed down. The route north of Lantau has more room and is less foggy.

Nowhere in the short-form environmental impact assessment report on the proposed incinerator on Shek Kwu Chau have I found mention of the increased risk to life and property, which there will be once more vessels start carrying waste to the facility. Whether they use the Adamasta channel or the longer route to the east of Cheung Chau, they will have to cross the routes of the high-speed ferries, twice per trip. Did the consultants consider this increased risk?

Apart from the above, the pollution which the incinerator will create will affect nearby Cheung Chau. It is now accepted in Hong Kong that Cheung Chau is a wonderfully preserved fishing village.

Government departments have beautified and rejuvenated it and the hospitable Cheung Chau fishermen, restaurants and shopkeepers have responded enthusiastically. If the Environmental Protection Department gets its way, this attraction will be knocked on the head.

Why has the alternative site for incineration offered by the cement plant at Tap Shek Kok not been accepted? This should be the preferred site, with nearby Sha Chau the second best despite it being in a dolphin reserve. The local fishing industry has come to terms with it being in decline, so dolphin reserves could be identified without too much fuss.

Jack Haworth, Cheung Chau

Textbooks do not keep changing

I refer to the letter from Jocelyn Choy Ka-wai ('When textbook prices go up it puts more pressure on parents', May 8). I would like to clarify the issue and provide some facts from a wider perspective.

It is untrue that textbooks need to be revised frequently because of rapid changes in the school curriculum.

Except for the New Senior Secondary Curriculum which was implemented from the 2009-10 school year onwards, most of the current curricula have been used for some years.

For instance, the curricula of Chinese, English and mathematics at primary level have been in operation since the 2006-07, 2005-06 and 2002-03 school years respectively, while the junior secondary curricula of these subjects have operated since the 2002-03, 2000-01 and 2000-01 school years respectively.

Since the implementation of the curricula of these core subjects, 381 sets of textbooks have been published for Primary One to [secondary] Form Three levels. Among them, only 87 sets, amounting to 23 per cent, are revised textbooks.

Further, textbooks cannot be revised within three years after they are put on the 'Recommended Book List'. Since the 2010-2011 school year, the rule has been further tightened by replacing the 'three-year no revision rule' with the 'five-year no revision rule'.

We hope these facts and statistics could help provide the public with a clearer perspective on the textbook issue.

K. W. Cheung, for secretary for education

Cows are a natural part of Sai Kung

I have no details of the accident referred to by Alan Crawley ('Cow problem in Sai Kung out of control', May 17), but after living in Sai Kung for 17 years and seeing cows on an almost daily basis, I have never seen these slow, lumbering beasts make any kind of sudden movement, such as darting into traffic.

It is more than likely that the accident was due to the vehicle travelling too fast and being unable to stop in time.

Rather than petitioning for the removal of the cows, Mr Crawley might be better served in asking the police to enforce the speed limits on Hong Kong's roads or even reduce them in areas where animals are known to roam.

Mr Crawley is being selfish. Presumably, he moved to Sai Kung knowing full well that cows roam freely here.

If he doesn't like it, he should have chosen somewhere else to live.

It is not reasonable to move here and then try to change the character and environment of this lovely part of Hong Kong.

I know that perceptions can be different but Mr Crawley's statement that 'the roads are getting infested with these dangerously large animals' is a total distortion of the actual situation in Sai Kung.

And if Mr Crawley is such a busy man that he cannot afford a few minutes' delay due to cows on the road, I suggest he moves closer to the city.

After all, no one is forcing him to live here.

Keith McNab, Sai Kung

Fund will not help to tackle poverty

There has been a lot of debate about the HK$10 billion Community Care Fund, with equal contributions supposedly to be made by business and the government.

It may be well-intentioned, but instead of providing funds, the administration should be trying to help people stand on their own. It should be providing more job opportunities.

Officials should also place more emphasis on elderly welfare and education. Poverty in a family can pass from one generation to the next, because of an inadequate learning environment. Subsidies must be made available to children from low-income families so they can take part in extra-curricular classes. This will give them a better chance to develop their full potential.

I hope the chief executive can come up with more effective measures than this Community Care Fund in his next policy address.

Carmen Cheung, Kwun Tong

Change bad habits for planet's sake

The damage being done to our environment is due to humans' bad habits.

Too often in the summer, people turn on air-conditioners at very cold settings. They may even keep some windows and doors open.

If they shut them they could easily be comfortable with a setting of 25.5 degrees Celsius, which is energy efficient. On those summer days when it is a bit cooler, people should consider using fans instead of air-cons.

Also, Hongkongers tend to use taxis more often in the summer to avoid the heat outside. But taxis cause pollution and so people should wherever possible choose public transport.

We have so many bad habits, but the ones I outlined are easy to change and can lead to healthier prospects for the planet.

Law Ka-man, Kowloon Bay

Backyard refuse dumps already here

I could not agree more with Mia Ejendal ('Environment given short shrift in HK', May 11) regarding the lack of recycling facilities for batteries and other toxic material.

I should not really be surprised by this because our government can't even organise a glass recycling facility, let alone something more sophisticated for dangerous materials.

I must disagree, however, with her comment regarding Hong Kong becoming a 'backyard rubbish dump' in the future. There are already several backyard rubbish dumps in some of our New Territories villages.

Patrick M. Megan, Sai Kung

Abuse of pets is growing problem

There is widespread concern about abuse of animals in Hong Kong.

More people are buying pets but so often they do not give it enough thought.

For example, they do not ask themselves if their home is a suitable environment for the animal.

As a result, even more pets are now being abandoned and becoming strays.

They often become a target of attacks by cruel people.

Individuals have to think very carefully before they purchase a pet and realise it is a lifetime commitment.

Also, I would like to see tougher punishment for people found guilty of animal cruelty.

Annie Lo Yam-kwan, Kowloon City