Publicity last thing Mother's Choice needs

IREFER to the article ''Foreign aid workers quit 'dying room' orphanage'' (Sunday Morning Post, January 9).

I am sure I am not alone in wondering what possible explanation can be given for printing such an article, especially when doing so will exacerbate an already sensitive issue and jeopardise the help that can be given to the babies and children involved.

There was nothing newsworthy in the piece. More important, however, is the issue of the newspapers publishing an article which could only result in making the task of the workers for Mother's Choice and other agencies in China more difficult.

It is surely not news to anyone that conditions in some orphanages in China - and other countries - are terrible. What is more important is what can be done to help.

Mother's Choice continues to work at this orphanage - with Chinese staff only at this time - and the agency's two main programmes (staff training and developing alternative care for abandoned babies) are making great progress. VICTORIA DOWN Repulse Bay