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SCMP Reporter

The E-mail forum

Q What do you think of the Harbour Fest's organisation?

Many expats living in Shanghai have followed the on again /off again comedy surrounding the Rolling Stones' concert.

I was involved in this sort of business a couple of years ago and have to say I have never seen such a terrible PR campaign and information flow  as this in Hong Kong. On the mainland, yes, but in Hong Kong? Yet the guys from InvestHK seem really proud of themselves.

To organise the Harbour Fest  is great - despite the  criticisms about the proper use of taxpayers' money - but the way the communication was handled was not. Let's hope the Stones concert really does take place.

Markus Benz, Shanghai

Is there really nothing else legislators in Hong Kong have to do than to involve themselves with the Rolling Stones? Do those people realise what a negative image they create to the outside world by ridiculing everything that is happening in Hong Kong?

They want to investigate everything: from delays on the MTR, Star Ferry and even the financial status of concerts. Where will they be if, in the end, the organisers do not lose any money?

All these issues have been created by the negative attitude of those overpaid legislators. Why don't they use their time to promote Hong Kong in a positive way? Because that is what Hong Kong needs; a positive attitude from its government and people.

J. Arkesteijn, Tuen Mun

Obviously, there was a communication block between the Harbour Fest organisers and the Rolling Stones' management. Judging from the media, it looks like the government had no bargaining power.

Are all those famous foreign stars so arrogant that they can treat this event so carelessly or is it because of the inexperience of the government handlers of the Harbour Fest?

What I am most concerned with is the effectiveness of all this spending of public money. I don't want our money to be used in an unaccountable way. We have the right to know the whole picture.

I hope the government  will invite more experienced organisers to arrange this kind of event in future. Vincent Lau Yun-chee, Tsuen Wan

Q Is it worth the cost of scrapping the Central reclamation?

Definitely.  Reclamation is not the only solution to traffic congestion in Central. There are many concrete suggestions from the public and experts that the government can consider.

Although the government has claimed it is its undisputed responsibility to protect the harbour, what officials are doing is just the opposite. Judging from their past record, they will eventually change their minds about how to use the resultant land and sell it for commercial purposes - and the ultimate outcome will be more ugly concrete blocks.

Look at what the government has done to the harbour and look at what Winston Chu Ka-sun and Christine Loh Kung-wai have been fighting for all these years. It is a great shame Mr Chu was threatened and forced to leave.  Had it not been for their persistence and enthusiasm in this matter, the harbour could be much narrower than it is now.

We only have one Victoria Harbour. This is a precious asset that should not be destroyed.

W. K. Wong, Wan Chai

Q Should buffalo be left to roam freely on Lantau?

I am disgusted at the knee-jerk reaction of the government in terrorising these harmless creatures. The water buffalo have been on Lantau longer than anyone living here and are an integral part of the landscape. Of course these animals foul the beach or road from time to time - but that's life (you don't have to tread in it).

I find it alarming that just because a few people make a pathetic complaint about being scared by them, this warrants such a brutal and uncompromising response. What has carting off several buffalo  achieved, except demonstrated a shameful lack of humanity in dealing with a natural environmental treasure.

D. Powell, Lantau

On the proposal to remove water buffalo from Lantau, we totally oppose  a careless attitude towards any wildlife that is part of Hong Kong's natural heritage.

I and my fellow  residents find the animal inhabitants (whether  cows, buffalo, pigs or water lizards) one of the greatest joys of living here. Hong Kong is one of the rare places  where you can live harmoniously with large animals  in a gorgeous village environment.

We don't want the sterility   of the concrete jungle. The New Territories and outlying islands have a unique lifestyle  where people and animals live together.

Sabi Meadth, Sai Kung



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