bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Police officers must return to 'light touch'
The Hong Kong Police Force is still Asia's finest, and compares favourably with any police force in the world - honest, polite, civil and anxious to defuse tense situations.
It has changed, however, in one respect: it is less friendly. The old culture of "policing with a light touch" was never better demonstrated than in the weeks leading up to the handover.
The police seemed comfortable with crowds, took time to smile and chat and overlooked small infringements; people felt like human beings rather than like sheep.
These qualities were still in evidence during the big democracy march of 2003, when the police would still smile and not be afraid to chat or even joke with marchers. How things have changed. On the most recent democracy march in July, I did not see a single smiling policeman.
Many were dressed in intimidating black paramilitary gear. An effort to make friendly conversation with a couple of policewomen was met with a cold shoulder. Inflexibility replaced flexibility.
Whereas the vast majority of marchers were law-abiding and orderly and, I'm sure, only too ready to recognise the police force's devotion to duty on a public holiday in a thundering downpour, we were greeted with sullen looks: it was "us versus them".
It will be argued that the fault is not all on one side, and that policemen face levels of provocation that they didn't face in the past: violence begets violence. This is true.
In 2003, after marvelling at the orderliness of 500,000 marchers during a time of high political and social tension, when not a brick was thrown or window smashed, I warned that unless meaningful progress was made in political reform, increasing radicalisation would result. So here we are, 10 years later.
A second area of concern is the perception of the politicisation of the police force. This perception is especially acute at a time when Hong Kong people feel that their values and way of life are being eroded.
For the police force, I have this word of advice: relax. Most people are on your side. Take time to chat and smile to your fellow citizens.
For the authorities, I have this to say: truly effective policing can only work through consensus. Once there is a perception of political bias, it is remarkably easy for that consensus to be fatally undermined.
Markus Shaw, Central
 
Chief executive is lacking sensitivity
I was disappointed to read the comments of our chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, calling for an investigation by the education minister of the actions of a teacher who was upset by the inaction of the police in a violent confrontation involving the group Youth Care Association.
This is not the first time that this rather secretive group has been involved in violent confrontations when the police have appeared "neutral".
Mr Leung seems to lack sensitivity with regard to the frustrations felt within Hong Kong society, the potential for social upheaval and the activities of such groups.
This was also evidenced by his apparent handling of the community forum [where he made his comments] and the questioners chosen.
The police may be "politically" neutral but they are under a management which I understand is government- appointed. They certainly can have a difficult job, but it may be difficult to be neutral in that sense.
Tom Mulvey, Wan Chai 
 
Surely all views should be respected
I think there is a sickness in Hong Kong in society.
I cannot imagine why so many people came to the defence of Alpais Lam Wai-sze, the teacher who triggered the latest controversy in the city.
She obviously lost control and levelled insults at police. She argued that her actions were in response to partial law enforcement on the part of the police against the Falun Gong. Yet all reasonable people will understand that those who were on duty that day did not deserve to be the recipients of her anger.
Even if she had some justification for the accusation she was making, the officers at the scene were only doing their duty and following the orders of their superiors.
As a schoolteacher, she should know there are more effective channels through which she can lodge her complaints, rather than make a scene in the street.
The pan-democrats say freedom of speech is the core value in Hong Kong, and they will do everything in their power to defend it.
Yet when retiring police superintendent Gregory Lau Tat-keung said something not pleasing to them, they supported those who complained to the Independent Police Complaints Council. Surely Lau's freedom of speech is worth defending?
If you look at the comments some pan-democratic supporters have left online, you see their belligerent and sometimes offensive response to opposing ideas. This sets a bad example for the younger generation.
Many Hongkongers have faith in democracy and they deserve to have universal suffrage.
However, we have to ask if we are on the right path.
Agnes Liu, Siu Sai Wan
 
Pro-gay lobby seeks to silence differing views
The pro-homosexual movement has taken issue with a coalition of Christian groups which is attempting to create gay-friendly churches.
They object to these Christians who say that while they welcome homosexuals who remain celibate, same-sex activity is a sin. The pro-gay movement's call to ban sexuality-based discrimination is meant to silence any dissenting views against homosexuality, which happens in the West. Those who speak out against it face verbal and sometimes physical abuse.
Saying a homosexual act is a sin (which is what the Bible and many religions say), and abnormal, is not discrimination.
Nor is it discriminatory to say there is a higher possibility of homosexuals contracting HIV than heterosexuals, as medical statistics make clear. Calling a spade a spade helps people face the truth.
There is no such thing as a "homosexual gene". For various reasons, some known and some unknown, some people feel sexual attraction to other people of the same sex at a certain age.
The Christian coalition's evangelical charter encourages acceptance of these people if they remain celibate. Whether they act on their feelings or not is their conscious choice, and they must live with the consequences.
Sexual orientation is not something cast in stone. I am not advocating any therapy, but there are many thousands of people in the US, and many in Hong Kong, who openly leave their homosexual lifestyle. There are also many people who go from being straight to being gay at some point.
Why should special rights be granted based on particular sexual behaviour to the extent that you cannot speak out against it?
Peter Shek, North Point
	 
Policy created pampered children
I understand why the one-child policy was introduced on the mainland, as there was a need for the central government to control population growth.
However, it has brought with it social problems that might not have been predicted.
First of all, because of the one-child policy, China is faced with an ageing population.
It has been estimated that by the middle of this century, 440 million Chinese citizens will be aged 60 or over, accounting for more than 30 per cent of the country's population.
If the birth rate remains low, then there will be fewer people of working age.
If numbers in the workforce drop, then this will surely have an adverse effect on productivity and raise questions about China's sustainable development.
Also, there are the social problems associated with so many families having only one child.
An increasing number of children in such family units grow up in an environment where their parents are overprotective.
They do not learn to be independent and look after themselves. This can prove a problem when they grow up and are unable to deal with the difficulties that all adults will face in their lives. They are unable to learn from the mistakes that we all make.
What is more, with the traditional bias for sons in Chinese society, many couples have aborted female fetuses and more baby girls are abandoned. This has led to an uneven sex ratio.
I hope that better education standards for the next generation will lead to the country being able to deal with the problems I have outlined.
Kary Chan Kit-ching, Tseung Kwan O
	 
Fallen tree a concern for pedestrians
On August 7 at around 7.15am, a large tree fell onto South Bay Road, Southern district.
This was just uphill from a small plaza where a post office and two real estate companies are located.
There were no injuries. Our domestic helper, who was walking the dog, witnessed this occurrence and was shaken up, as she had just passed that spot minutes before. It is a road with quite a few pedestrians from the surrounding area and many cyclists and runners.
The area was very rapidly cordoned off and a large crew sawed up and removed the tree. After they left, except for some sawdust and a large gaping open area, one would never know that this incident had occurred.
I believe residents need to be aware of this situation, and given the recent heavy rains, the trees along our roadsides need to be inspected.
Ann Quinn, South Bay


Letters to the Editor, August 15, 2013

Officers at the annual July 1 march. Photo: David Wong

Opinion

Letters

The Hong Kong Police Force is still Asia's finest, and compares favourably with any police force in the world - honest, polite, civil and anxious to defuse tense situations.
