I REFER to the criticism and ''concern'' expressed, yet again, by certain parties in the South China Morning Post report (July 21) on the Chungking Mansions raid conducted by the immigration/police authorities a few days ago.
If ''many of the people there are perfectly legal, low-budget travellers'', as is claimed in the report, then I am a goddess from Heaven.
Will our tourism chief please climb down from his ''Cuckooland'' and let the appropriate authorities get on with the jobs for which they are trained and eminently qualified to do? The very day the story of the raid was reported in the press, I saw a ''Western'' couple flogging bead necklaces, blatantly illegally, right on the walkway outside Jardine House.
Genuine travellers - budget or otherwise - would be welcome as long as they only veni and vidi - but do not vici our home.
We also fail to see the relevance to the reference that he was himself a backpacker once.
Mother Teresa is a Nobel Laureate and Mahatma Gandhi was the ''Father of a Nation'' - but it does not follow that everyone with a sari covering her head and a loin cloth round his waist is a saint or a samaritan.
