The police are not doing anything to enforce traffic laws. Kowloon taxis with "out of service" signs over their meters are double-parked on Pedder Street every day, blocking other taxis in the queue at the taxi stand.

In this busy part of Central, there is not a policeman in sight. A street-sleeper has been camping on the overhead walkway linking Worldwide House to the International Finance Centre for weeks. There are hawkers nearby obstructing pedestrians.

Take a walk around Wan Chai in the vicinity of Luard Road, about 200 metres from the Hong Kong Police headquarters and the Immigration Department headquarters, and you will see street walkers of all nationalities who are there soliciting customers.

The Immigration Department did a show raid before the Rugby Sevens but they are all back again.

More and more Asian male "domestic helpers" can be seen sitting behind the wheels of seven-seater vehicles, picking up children from school, taking jobs away from locals.

This scene is repeated all over Hong Kong wherever there is a school or kindergarten.

Friends in the disciplinary services say that the police are aware of this, but they are only concerned with whether the driver has a driving licence and breaching conditions of stay is an immigration problem.

And immigration says it is often hard to get the necessary evidence.

It does not need anyone with any knowledge of law enforcement to realise how easy it is to get evidence.

Simply stop a vehicle with an Asian driver, with a maid and a child in the back and then ask the driver what he is doing with his employer's vehicle picking up the child from school.

These are but a few examples of lawlessness. The government must act instead of just talk if it is to show the people it means business. Maybe then we will see less colonial flag waving.