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Letters

Cathay flights continually monitored
In response to the letter from Brian Hughes ("Public needs reassurance of airline safety", March 28), I would first of all like to stress that safety is always the top priority at Cathay Pacific.
Thorough inspection and maintenance programmes are in place for our fleet and we work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure stringent security measures are in place and effective.
Our long-haul operations with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft do indeed cover long distances when operating on transpacific routes, but I would like to reassure Mr Hughes and the travelling public that Cathay Pacific aircraft are equipped with advanced satellite communications systems.
We are continually monitoring the status of our aircraft and the planes download their exact position a minimum of around every 20 minutes. We also track the maintenance status of our aircraft at all times. Information on any significant technical issues will be transmitted immediately back to our engineering team at Cathay Pacific's headquarters.
The Boeing 777-300ER that operates our ultra-long-haul services is a highly sophisticated machine that is acknowledged as one of the safest aircraft in operation. And it goes without saying that Cathay Pacific pilots are consummate professionals who are trained to deal with every eventuality.
Christopher Gibbs, engineering director, Cathay Pacific Airways
 
Downpours didn't dampen Sevens spirit
One cannot speak too highly of the city's ability to accommodate what must be the premier tournament of the Rugby Sevens calendar.
The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, its sponsors and officials deserve praise for making it all possible.
The torrential downpours failed to dampen the spirits of those who attended. On this subject, I would like to commend the actions of the HSBC World of Sport venue, which opened its marquee to supporters when the heavens opened, thus ensuring continued coverage of the event for one and all. Kindness, courtesy and consideration were shown in an exemplary manner.
Ken Mortell, San Po Kong
 
Long, pointless wait on bus at stadium
I refer to the bus service for people attending the Hong Kong Sevens, from Hong Kong Stadium after the Sevens event at the weekend.
Being a repeat visitor to the Sevens, and having used the bus service from the stadium to Central many times, I found the routing this year to be challenged and flawed.
In past years, as the bus filled up, it left the stadium and went straight to the designated stop in Central.
This year, the bus filled up and then drove approximately 100 metres to the corner and was stopped by police and held for 20 to 30 minutes, to allow exiting foot traffic from the stadium to clear.
This caused many of the bus passengers to become annoyed as the driver would not let anyone leave and the police stood by and watched.
There were long periods where there was no pedestrian traffic and yet the bus remained stationary.
In years past, this never happened as there was always an exit lane for vehicular traffic, but apparently this year it was overlooked.
Larry Cowle, Central
 
Bureau can restore faith in mainland food
I welcome the decision of the central government to set up an organisation to probe cases of tainted food and counterfeit drugs on the mainland ("Task force targets fake food, drugs", March 30).
The government has done the right thing to establish the Drug Crimes Investigation Bureau to investigate alleged cases and it can bring a lot of benefits.
It will offer greater protection to citizens, given that previous scandals have led to some citizens falling ill when they consumed tainted food.
If the new organisation can deal effectively with this problem then I hope we will no longer see a repeat of these tragedies which have sometimes led to fatalities.
It will also improve China's image internationally.
These scandals of tainted food and other faulty and dangerous products have damaged its reputation.
It has led to many consumers on the mainland and abroad no longer trusting products from China and refusing to purchase them.
If the bureau successfully targets rogue manufacturers then, hopefully, trust in products from the mainland can be restored.
I do hope this bureau will actually succeed in its brief and that, through its investigations, the tainted food problem on the mainland will be dealt with.
Nadia Lam, Tsim Sha Tsui
 
Dictation should not be abandoned
A number of correspondents have spoken out for and against the use of dictation to teach English in schools in Hong Kong.
I think it is a necessary teaching method as it enables students to learn more vocabulary and improve their listening skills. This is important when it comes to doing well in examinations.
It also helps teachers to accurately assess the English standard of each student.
It is only by absorbing new words that young people can move forward with the language.
Dictation helps them to revise new vocabulary they have learned.
This is also helpful in other subjects such as integrated science and history.
If teachers read an essay out loud in class, then students are able to recognise different sentence structures and how new words are being used and they are then able to remember them.
What is more, it is important for students to know their own abilities and shortcomings and they are better able to do this with dictation.
This makes it easier for them to track their academic progress and allows them to draw up a more effective schedule for studying.
Dictation enables them to have a better understanding of how they are doing.
Any reforms to methods of teaching in Hong Kong should recognise that dictation still has a role to play in the classroom and it should not be done away with.
The city needs young people to join the workforce with a good command of English, who can speak it well and who also understand what is being said to them.
Dictation can still help them achieve these objectives.
Anson Sin Ka-wing, Tseung Kwan O
 
Radical change of attitude to waste needed
Food waste is not just an environmental issue, it is also a social one.
We have to ask whether a food waste recycling scheme will be enough to tackle the root of the problem.
Although recycling is a better option than disposal at one of Hong Kong's landfill sites, it still does not address the problem.
It is because of citizens' lack of awareness that huge volumes of food waste are generated.
Rather than just promoting recycling or imposing a waste charge, people have to change their attitudes. They have to recognise the disadvantages of excessive consumerism and realise food is something that should be valued and waste avoided.
Leung Kit-yan, Diamond Hill


Letters to the Editor, April 2, 2014

Sevens organisers did a great job. Photo: Nora Tam

Letters to the Editor, March 28, 2014

Trans-fats pose a threat to health. Photo: SCMP

Chinese task force to target counterfeit food and drugs

The task force will investigate counterfeit food. Photo: AFP

Opinion

In response to the letter from Brian Hughes ("Public needs reassurance of airline safety", March 28), I would first of all like to stress that safety is always the top priority at Cathay Pacific.
