Respect a two-way street

I refer to the letter from Martha Barth headlined, 'Many older HK citizens rude and selfish' (Post, October 8).

I am 17 and Chinese and I agree with Ms Barth, that although according to Chinese tradition, we should respect the elderly, if they are rude, then they do not deserve that respect.

This conforms with the principles of Confucianism, which say that if a person will not play his role in society, the other members of society need not show them respect. For example if a king is an ineffective ruler, his subjects can rise up against him. If an elderly person shows no respect for younger people, then that person is not, in turn, entitled to their respect.

HUNG MING LUN Tai Po