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SCMP Reporter

Political hazards

Because of heavy politics in our legislature, Hong Kong has lost some of its best people in public service.

Former secretaries Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee (security) and Antony Leung Kam-chung (finance) are two such people.

They will be a hard act to follow. The aspiring newcomers will have to employ an entourage of experts to groom them to political maturity as quickly as possible as they tackle their new posts.

That will consume a lot of time, money and energy. And it may rob them of valuable time to perform their duties effectively.

Urgently we have to seek ways to reduce the burden of politics on important posts in government.

LAL DASWANI, Tsim Sha Tsui

Membership drive

I am very sorry to read about the experience of your correspondent Sung Nee with the Liberal Party ('Liberal experience', July 30), but am somewhat puzzled by the facts of the case.

In seeking to investigate the matter, we could not find any contact listed under this name. Furthermore, it is not Liberal Party practice to contact 'Friends of the Liberals' by telephone, and certainly not to invite them to party seminars this way. To add to the mystery, we did not hold any seminar, nor did I speak at one, during the time the writer referred to, that is 11/2 years ago.

If Sung Nee could contact me or the party directly, we can look into this further. Meantime, I extend my apologies to him for any misunderstanding which may have occurred. We always welcome new supporters, who can apply online for membership of the party or 'Friends of the Liberals' at www.liberal.org.hk

JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, chairman, Liberal Party

Priestly act

Something happened this week on the shores of southern Italy, already full of holiday-makers and tourists.

A 44-year-old priest, Stefano Gorzegno, from Verona, was sent to a small village in south Italy, Bojano, a few years ago to serve as a parish priest. On this hot day of a hot summer, he took seven parish children to the beach, but when they entered the water a wave swept them away, far from the shore.

Realising this, Father Gorzegno immediately jumped in with his vest still on and managed to drag all seven to safety. But he was so exhausted he drowned.

This is small news, not big enough to be noticed by the international press, which, on the other hand, is very active in reporting child abuses by priests.

For this reason, to try to balance things a bit, I decided to write this short letter to you.

ANGELO PARATICO, Cheung Sha Wan



Letters