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SCMP Reporter

I would like all pro-democracy leaders to announce a clear, workable, alternative plan for the democratic functioning of Hong Kong.

Now that the chief executive's proposals for political development are with us, let the democrats work out a charter for Hong Kong. They should imagine that one of them is a candidate for chief executive and present a manifesto to the people.

This should include proposals for tackling the budget deficit, improvement of social welfare, relations with the central government, co-operation with other parts of the Pearl River delta, the concepts of separation of powers and rule of law, administration of justice, reform of the legislature, and other aspects of the political structure.

The elections are due in September and we should examine the democratic camp's plan of action in the event that it is elected with a majority in the legislature.

ANNA NAIDU, Mid-Levels

Idling: end the habit

There is no disputing that vehicles with engines idling can cause a nuisance to pedestrians and shops nearby. But we must be careful to deal with the problem effectively and make sure that we will not create a new problem.

Only some cities in the world control idling engines by law. And those that do mainly resort to persuasion rather than handing out tickets. Also, exemption is granted when the weather is hot. We understand that Toronto allows idling when the ambient temperature is over 27 degrees. If we regulate idling engines by law and grant the same exemption, the effect would be very limited as Hong Kong has generally warm weather throughout the year.

For operational reasons, some vehicles must keep their engines on while waiting: for example, armoured cars, and concrete-mixer and refrigerated trucks. We are also mindful that if we prohibit idling engines, many drivers will simply choose to go around the block instead of switching off their engines. This will lead to more serious air pollution as a running vehicle emits more pollutants than an idling engine.

Improving the situation requires a change of drivers' mindset. We have decided to adopt an advisory approach and have issued guidelines to all sectors of the transport trade. We have also launched a series of promotional campaigns to encourage drivers to switch off idling engines.

We will continue to review the situation and seek the co-operation of major transport trade organisations and the public to help make switching off engines a habit.

TONY LEE for Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works

Advance, with flaws

The letter headlined 'Free and responsible' (April 13) asserts that a sector of the media acts irresponsibly. Which is like saying that some researchers tend to state the obvious.

It is probably true that the checks and balances for regulating ethical media behaviour are not always effective. Perhaps we need to strengthen legislation, improve the code of practice in the profession and spruce up public education programmes on business ethics. But the fact that the check-and-balance system is flawed does not imply that a youthful democracy should not be allowed to progress.

Hong Kong has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Whether the people are knowledgeable or not depends on how we measure 'knowledgeability'. The literacy rate is a good enough measure. As for whether we are fair-minded, I have read no research report that suggests Hong Kong is particularly terrible in this regard.

Most people want freedom, but some exercise it with responsibility and others do not. Public governance tries to ensure that one citizen's enjoyment of freedom does not infringe upon other citizens' equal right to do so. To a large extent, Hong Kong has such protections in place.

Citizens have access to the broadest range of information when freedom of expression and freedom to access information are allowed. Whether the expression or information is 'quality' reporting is best left to the citizenry, instead of a patronising authority, to decide.

Hong Kong does seem to have all the right ingredients Dr Margaret Chu listed for the progress of a youthful democracy. It would be irrational to stunt this progress on the basis that a sector of the media sometimes acts irresponsibly.

CATHERINE NG, Citizens Party

Renew mobile licence

I refer to the letter 'Phone licence fight' (April 14), about the proposal by the Office of Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) for the renewal of 2G mobile licences.

We believe that the proposal not to renew some licences in a discriminatory manner would cause adverse effects to the whole mobile sector and affect consumer benefits in the long run.

If OFTA proceeds down this path, it would send a negative signal to the business community and threaten Hong Kong's status as a leading international telecommunications centre. It would be the first time anywhere that a government has withdrawn a licence from a 2G operator with a fully-built operational network.

From our parent company Hutchison Whampoa's experience in Israel and India, dialogues with the regulators have resulted in extensions of the term of the licences well before their expiry dates. Indeed, the regulator in France has recently announced its policy to renew all existing 2G licences expiring in 2006 for further terms of 15 years.

We appreciate Ng Hon-wah's recognition that licences are normally renewed upon expiry and Hutchison Telecom can legitimately expect renewal. In our submissions to OFTA, we have expressed this view and also that renewal is protected by law. But OFTA has failed to address this important point.

Also, our leadership position is built upon a willingness to engage in competition which benefits customers in the form of affordable prices as well as high-quality products and services.

It is simply wrong to argue that holding more than one mobile phone licence is 'anti-competitive'. Hong Kong has one of the most competitive mobile phone markets in the world and has more operators than any other larger economy. In fact, most operators in Hong Kong hold more than one licence - all of the four 3G licence holders are also 2G operators.

Hutchison Telecom is proud that it rolled out the world's first CDMA network in 1995 in Hong Kong, but is dismayed that it is now threatened with OFTA's proposal to take back the licence for re-licensing, without providing a concrete factual, economic and technical analysis.

OFTA has made much of the decline in CDMA subscribers in recent years, yet fails to recognise that the fall is the direct result of market forces and consumer choice arising from the growth of the increasingly popular GSM technology (which competes with CDMA).

We have been consistently providing high quality CDMA services to subscribers as well as inbound and outbound roamers. In line with the recent development of CDMA in the mainland, we are also in the process of reinvigorating these services, plans that have now been put in jeopardy.

OFTA should adhere to policies that will promote fairness, stability and transparency for the mobile phone market and not risk harming investment in this dynamic sector.

OSWALD KWOK, senior counsel - regulatory affairs, Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong)

Bush did not ramble

The article 'Rambling Bush has no apologies' (April 15) demonstrates poor journalistic judgment.

Post readers deserved an article about President George W. Bush's press conference - his message about events in Iraq and his response to the tough questions. Instead they read a misleading headline as well as an article that did not give specifics of the content of the press conference.

To suggest that Mr Bush spent about an hour rambling is an odd interpretation. I admit that he is sometimes far from articulate, but this time he presented his position and responded to questions in an articulate fashion.

Please keep the editorials on the editorial page.

AARON KENNON, Redhill

Towards a better count

To acquire four-digit accuracy (or maybe five) in counting the number of participants in the April 11 march, the Central Policy Unit might have considered buying the service from a different sector.

At first I wondered if a satellite geographic information consulting firm would have been better than a marketing consulting firm. But then I realised it is simple and naive to think that such firms might have security clearance to work for the government.

BEDA CHAN, Pokfulam



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Hutchison Whampoa

Let democrats offer a manifesto for leadership