I applaud Christine Loh for her proposal in Letter To Hong Kong (RTHK Radio 3) that the penalty for the excessive emission of smoke and pollutants from road vehicles be raised from $450 to $5,000, and censure Lai Hoi-ping of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Taxi and Lorry Driver's Association for stating that his association will oppose such measures (report, South China Morning Post, May 3).
Mr Lai must be feeling very guilty if he thinks that Ms Loh was picking on his association at the expense of buses.
Ms Loh was being very fair and was advocating that all road users be held equally liable for their pollution. This includes buses, taxis, trucks, even trams, yes trams, the cleanest of all road vehicles, with the exception of bicycles, in terms of the exhaust emissions they generate.
Of course, Mr Lai's association opposes such measures. But it is about time that his influential association was put in its place. Many problems of dirty diesel engines and exhaust emissions can be corrected by regular, proper maintenance of engines and by using bona fide good-quality diesel fuel. Why should the population of Hong Kong be made to suffer as a result of the 'economical' money-saving practices of these vehicle owners? Good luck with your crusade, Ms Loh. I'm sure the vast majority of Hong Kong people are on your side.
C. W. SO Happy Valley
