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SCMP Reporter

Q Where should the mules go after the cable car project is completed?

It would be nice if the mules can stay on in Hong Kong. Mule rides along the beautiful mountains on Lantau during the cooler months would be wonderful.

Jane Lam, Happy Valley

Q Can you think of a name for the Yuen Long crocodile?

I suggest that 'Entertainer' be the name of the crocodile. The croc deserves the credit because it has diverted the attention of most people in Hong Kong.

Though its performances may have become a bit boring, we seemed to have been hooked on its exploits and the efforts of hunters, widely televised over the months, to catch the innocent little reptile. After the capture, the croc acted just like a seasoned entertainer resigned to its  fate.

Kayman, Tin Shui Wai

Q Should the Sai Kung waterfront be turned into a pedestrian area?

Your reader, Ralf JWeiss, suggested that advisory signs giving locations of car parks and the number of vacancies in each car park be erected on the approaches to Sai Kung. The police fully support this initiative and have already made an identical recommendation to the Transport Department.

Another initiative the police have also suggested is the establishing of a park-and-ride service to reduce the number of vehicles entering Sai Kung at weekends. It is also of consequence that as a direct result of police input that a new public transport interchange will be constructed as part of the Sha Kok Mei redevelopment. It is envisaged that this interchange will be linked to new parking facilities to enable better, and alternative, access to Sai Kung.

Mark Johnson,  divisional commander, Sai Kung Division

I would like to point out that it is not illegal per se for 'car jockeys' to operate a parking service. What is illegal is keeping all the spaces for their own use through criminal intimidation of other users. Such intimidation is usually only  implied and doesn't actually constitute on offence, which obviously makes it hard to arrest them.

Similarly we are unable to ban or punish restaurants that use them and the restaurants are only too happy to work with them, despite knowing of their triad connections. This sort of tacit support for organised crime cannot be condoned.

Sai Kung has a number of large multi-storey car parks, which are heavily underused. They are only a short  walk from the restaurants. It is hard to believe that this five-minute walk  would scare away potential customers.

Indeed, an enlarged sitting-out pedestrian area should attract more people. Also, why should the four restaurants using the parking services control the available  spaces? It obviously gives them an unfair advantage, which this police suggestion will remove.

Unfortunately, police manpower is limited. If we concentrate our resources here, then other duties, such as our anti-burglary patrols, will suffer.

I can assure your readers that this is not an easy way out for police. Experience with dealing with organised crime in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the world shows that the most effective way to overcome it is to remove the source of  income. We believe the closure of the parking spaces will benefit everyone.

Stephen Tarrant,  assistant district commander (crime), Wong Tai Sin District

On other matters ...

Hong Kong can play an important role in the global 'Healthy City' movement  ('Sai Kung shows it's part of 'Healthy City',' published on June 8). Currently we have two districts in Hong Kong - Sai Kung and Kwai Tsing - that have become the founding members of the Alliance for Healthy Cities.

I would like to share with the  community information about the Healthy City movement and the alliance, as I am one of the members of the steering committee of the alliance.

The idea is based on a 'setting approach' to promote health which views the different environments  in which people live and work as whole units. People within the setting of their everyday life can create health.

The biggest challenge for public health  is that   important  measures are taken outside the  sector. The challenge is  to co-ordinate  sectors in implementing  control measures and empower the community to create an  environment conducive to health.

Under the Healthy Cities initiative, the World Health Organisation encourages local governments to incorporate health issues  into all aspects of public policy. It  suggests  linking  health policy to other  policies, such as economic promotion and community development.

The alliance was founded in October last year  at  the WHO regional office for the western Pacific  in Manila.

At the meeting, the participants adopted the charter of the alliance as the backbone of the organisation.

The centre has also initiated the territory-wide 'Healthy Schools' movement with a well-established accreditation system leading to  recognition by the WHO. Recently,  the Manila office  commissioned the centre to conduct a Healthy Schools workshop for education and health professionals from  regional countries.

School communities are microcosms of the larger community, and schools would be the catalyst for bringing together  agencies that  impact upon the health of the community.

The Healthy Schools' movement will facilitate the Healthy City movement.

Albert Lee, health education centre director,  Chinese University



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