I read with interest the report headlined, 'Police defend 'black smoke' vehicle fines' (South China Morning Post, April 21), which included comments from Chief Inspector Lee Wing-keung.
If the esteemed chief inspector believes there is in fact no reason for concern then presumably he never gets caught behind any vehicle emitting this foul smoke.
One could also assume that he never travels on a motorbike or is ever a pedestrian in an area such as Causeway Bay.
Drivers seem to believe they are at total liberty to drench Hong Kong's air with such anti-social particulates.
I am amazed that the chief inspector does not even spare a thought for his own officers - the many police motorcycle riders who do not wear masks but expose themselves for hours every day to noxious fumes. If these unfortunates do not take protective action soon they may soon be suffering disabling lung disease. As for the chief inspector, I would urge him to get out of his air-conditioning long enough to visit the real world and realise what all the fuss is about.
DAVID JOHNSON Tai Tam