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Letters

Fears peaceful protest could turn violent
I agree with the core purpose of the Occupy Central movement that Hong Kong people should be entitled to choose their chief executive through genuine universal suffrage.
However, I am concerned about what will happen when it launches its protest next year.
The founders of the movement have talked about peaceful protests against the government.
However, there is always a risk that such a large-scale event could become disorderly and turn violent. This would be bad for the city's economy and could damage its global reputation.
If that reputation is compromised, then it could adversely affect the tourism and services sectors, which are very important parts of this international finance centre. We could suffer substantial economic losses.
I am also concerned about links with some politicians in Taiwan ("Business groups 'worried' by Occupy co-founder's meeting in Taiwan", October 29).
I would not support any actions being taken which could undermine "one country, two systems".
Hong Kong people should negotiate with the central government to handle any potential conflicts within the country, rather than seeking any outside help and this includes universal suffrage.
We need to have rational discussions with the SAR and central governments.
Christina Leung Ka-yu,Kwai Chung
 
Group must provide more information
The Occupy Central movement is proving to be controversial.
People who support it have claimed that it is their last resort to pursue genuine universal suffrage.
Some of them have even compared the movement to the non-violent civil disobedience campaign led by Mahatma Gandhi which eventually resulted in India achieving independence.
They argue any attempt by the administration to prohibit the movement's activities would be an infringement of basic civil rights in Hong Kong.
To a certain extent, they are right to say so. Our freedom of expression and right to protest are protected by the Basic Law, but it is important to point out we can enjoy these rights only on the condition that they are exercised in a lawful and peaceful manner. Opponents of the movement have voiced concerns that, when the planned protest is held, it could end in violent confrontation.
Given the current political atmosphere, I believe their worries are completely justified. But repressing activities merely on the presumption they will turn into social disorder is like fighting against an imaginary enemy. It may further intensify the conflict between the two sides and would be politically unwise. Hong Kong is a pluralistic society; we should uphold our core value of mutual respect.
To clear up the concerns some people have about their intentions, the movement's organisers should provide more details about their blueprint for political reform. They should also outline what contingency plans they have if the protests they are planning get out of control. In this way, they are likely to gain more public support and put pressure on the administration for genuine consultation.
I believe that, on our way towards universal suffrage, the means are just as important as the end.
Stanley Ip, Tseung Kwan O
 
Officials need to rethink role of biodiesel
There are some encouraging signs that the government is beginning to recognise our local waste-to-biodiesel industry as an excellent already-working model of what it hopes to achieve more broadly for recycling and food waste in Hong Kong.
But I must disagree with the Environmental Protection Department's ongoing assertion that the introduction of biodiesel will have little impact on roadside emissions ("Biodiesel maker pushes product use in market", October 28). Surely, given the World Health Organisation's recent pronouncement that air pollution is a leading cause of cancer, no government can afford to ignore any positive incremental impact.
The department's position that Euro V fossil diesel is as good an alternative as biodiesel (EN14214 standard) is misleading. While some parameters of Euro V fossil diesel (such as sulphur content) are equal to those of EN14214 biodiesel, the fundamental difference between the two is that biodiesel contains oxygen. This means it burns more completely, producing fewer emissions.
The department's position is also not supported by the science. Nearly 100 scientific studies conducted on a wide variety of engines in the past decade have confirmed that biodiesel reduces most roadside emissions. B20 (a 20 per cent blend of biodiesel) has been shown to reduce particulate emissions, unburned hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide by 10 to 20 per cent compared to fossil diesel.
The reduction in particulate emissions occurs across the range of particle sizes, including the very dangerous PM2.5 particles that are known to cause heart and lung disease, cancer, and respiratory infections. Nitrous-oxide emissions have been shown to be essentially unchanged for blends of B20 or lower. B20 also lowers emissions of the cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydro-carbons by 15 to 20 per cent.
I do not think these reductions can be called insignificant or marginal and I would encourage the department to review the science again. While we fully support the scheme to retire old diesel vehicles, we note it will take until 2020 and cost HK$10 billion.
Meanwhile, biodiesel is another tool in the clean air toolbox that we could be putting to work right now without the need for subsidies and with only a 1 to 2 per cent increase in fuel prices.
Locally produced biodiesel also comes with the added benefits of significant greenhouse-gas reductions and the safe disposal of one of our waste streams.
Anthony Dixon, chief executive officer, ASB Biodiesel
 
Pointless wait for golf clubs at airport
As a 17-year resident of Hong Kong, and a diamond card holder with Cathay Pacific, I am accustomed to wonderful service at Hong Kong airport and on Cathay flights.
Why is it, then, that whenever I return to Hong Kong with a set of golf clubs, I need to wait an extra 20 or 30 minutes to retrieve them from the oversized luggage location?
Many airports, such as Incheon, South Korea, deliver the clubs on the same carousel as normal luggage and almost all airports deliver them more efficiently than Hong Kong. Can this please be fixed?
Michael DeSombre, Stanley
 
Appoint more staff to check on neon signs
The government has to allocate more resources to tackle a roadside ticking time bomb that is waiting to explode.
The government has been criticised for insufficient checks on neon signs on buildings and this has raised concerns about lack of regular maintenance and safety.
We were made more aware of the problem following the incident last month in Nathan Road ("Swinging sign causes traffic chaos in Mong Kok", October 29). Luckily, it did not fall and no pedestrians were hurt, but traffic was disrupted for more than six hours.
This should be a wake-up call for the government and I hope it will act.
It must appoint more staff to undertake checks so that any signs where there is a potential risk are removed. The administration should not wait until a tragedy occurs.
Susie Li, Tai Wai


Letters to the Editor, November 6, 2013

Fewer emissions from cars using biodiesel. Photo: AFP

Business groups ‘worried’ by Occupy co-founder’s meeting in Taiwan

FHKI chairman Stanley Lau Chin-ho. Photo: May Tse

Biofuel maker pushes product use in market

Anthony Dixon, the chief executive of ASB Biodiesel, says the company is planning to develop another plant in Asia. Photo: Thomas Yau

Liquid extracted from recycled cooking oil. ASB says consumption of biodiesel would help reduce smuggling of used oil. Photo: Bloomberg

Swinging sign causes traffic chaos in Mong Kok

The signboard for New Brilliant Karaoke Nightclub on Nathan Road in Mong Kok hangs lower than normal over Nathan Road on Monday. Photo: Sam Tsang

A very quiet Nathan Road on Monday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Opinion

I agree with the core purpose of the Occupy Central movement that Hong Kong people should be entitled to choose their chief executive through genuine universal suffrage.
