THE E-MAIL FORUM Q Should the Tourism Board promote Yuen Long and its crocodile? I am not in support of a crocodile pool being designated as a scenic spot for tourists, on the grounds that there are no safety facilities such as fencing. Visiting the area could be dangerous because of the croc's presence. People could fall into the water by accident and get hurt or even killed. It could become a worldwide news event, thus further ruining the reputation of Hong Kong. Raymond Wong, Tsuen Wan A lot of you must love watching wild animals on Discovery Channel, but did you ever imagine seeing a living crocodile in Hong Kong? There are a few reasons why John Lever, the Australian crocodile expert, has not been able to catch the crocodile in Yuen Long. First, he is not used to Hong Kong's environment. As the crocodile is staying in a polluted waterway, with a disgusting smell during low tides, it is difficult for him to get hold of the reptile. Second, Australian crocodiles are different from the one here. Crocodiles that regularly encounter traffic and people will take more precautions when moving around, unlike ones living in the wild. Third, the nearby area is noisy and crowded. There are a lot of lights reflected from nearby Yuen Long buildings, which must have been noticed by the crocodile, making it more challenging for Mr Lever to catch it. For these reasons, I suggest that the area should be restricted to the public. Catching a crocodile is not a piece of cake; it might take months to do so. Therefore, I suggest the Hong Kong government hire another crocodile-catching expert - one who is more familiar with Hong Kong. The government should not sit and wait. Name and address supplied Q Does HK need an arts and cultural hub? The Hong Kong Construction Association welcomes the government's efforts to launch this major project in West Kowloon at a time when the construction industry is at a low ebb. If the local construction industry market does not improve in the near future, the industry's core strength might be further damaged and this could slow down reforms in the industry. The local industry hopes its contractors will have a big opportunity to participate in constructing this cultural hub. Priority should be given to local companies so that they can put into practice the proposed improvement measures by the government, such as nurturing a professional workforce and better safety, environment and quality standards. In addition, we would recommend the following special conditions be included in development contracts by developers: The principal contractors should be registered in Hong Kong. The subcontractors should register with the Voluntary Subcontractor Registration Scheme. The workers should possess trade testing certificates or other relevant documents issued by the Construction Industry Training Authority; and The developers should include a 'pay-for-safety' scheme in the construction contracts, which should demand that the principal contractors and their subcontractors implement a safety management system. The association is willing to give further advice. Patrick Chan, Secretary-General, Hong Kong Construction Association Q Is it time to remove the eyesores from the waterfront? The ugly buildings and unplanned areas have had a disastrous effect on the shoreline. Hong Kong seems to be running out of attractive sights. A long, beautiful pedestrian path can be a potential attraction for tourists. However, it is equally important to improve the water quality in the harbour. It is no good to walk along a beautiful path with dirty and smelly seawater nearby. There should also be recreational facilities for residents. It will not be cost-effective to have only tourists using the path. Some stores along the path could sell things like traditional Chinese products, paintings and food. Yeung Chun-wing, Tsuen Wan Q How can we keep our schools virus-free? The outbreak of viral gastroenteritis has spread to many schools, an elderly home, a hospital ward and a skills training centre. This should raise our awareness. To prevent infection, everybody has a responsibility to stop the disease and should be responsible for their own hygiene. Schools have the main responsibility, being hot spots for the spread of diseases. Aside from keeping school premises clean and maintaining good ventilation, teachers should pay more attention to students in case any get sick and must be sent home. Schools must also educate students on hygiene. Amy Cheung Chau-ting, Tung Chung Q Should the process of appointing the EOC chief be more transparent? The government should be transparent. The best way is to have an independent body appoint members of statutory organisations. Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's back-door appointments will always create controversy. I do not think Mr Tung could know all government officials so well that he could efficiently decide on who should be replaced and who should replace them. An independent office could better assess the ability of the candidates. Most importantly, the independent body should be transparent about its decision-making, revealing the reasons behind each appointment, so the public need not doubt again. Name and address supplied On other matters... In the South China Morning Post of November 26, I read that the Western Harbour Tunnel wants to raise their maximum tolls. This strategy is harmful for Hong Kong. In fact even their 'concessionary' toll is too high. The Western Harbour Tunnel is woefully underused while the Cross-Harbour one is so jam-packed that the government wants to reclaim land and build a bypass. Why? The answer is simple, the Western tunnel charges double for cars and triple for taxis. If the Western tunnel dropped its tolls to match the Cross-Harbour one and gained an equal share of tunnel traffic, its profits would remain almost the same. Yet Hong Kong would benefit by a massive relief of congestion, less pollution and no need to reclaim land for a bypass. Yazdi Parekh, Mid-Levels
