A Hong Kong-based consulting engineer, I agree with Richard Ko of the Association of Hong Kong Consulting Engineers that attention 'should be directed to the government's short-sighted measures to stem the budget deficit' rather than our profession ('Hong Kong needs infrastructure to stay world class', August 6.) But Mr Ko gave no details of his insight. It concerns me that the profession, and its representatives, do not post strong views against questionable infrastructure planning targeted by the public and media. I am sure our engineering colleagues in government would also like to participate in what could be 'world class' planning, and the profession should voice its opinion on the alternatives to what we see before us. We must be concerned about the current public debate. The profession should speak out on the quality of the annual expenditure of $29 billion on Hong Kong's infrastructure. For example, is it short-sighted that reclamation at the central harbourfront will be used to create saleable land when we are told that it is needed for transport infrastructure? Are there not minimum reclamation alternatives which would be in accordance with the harbour preservation ordinance? What of the super-prison proposed for pristine Hei Ling Chau - to free up other urban prison sites for redevelopment when separate government-sponsored studies promote island-based recreation, leisure and tourism uses? Or Sir Norman Foster's excessive glass shroud-atrium planned for West Kowloon, which may not represent the cultural, waterfront and land use aspirations of Hong Kong's people? Let the profession be recognised as one which is boldly supportive of the community's aspirations. N. J. EASTERBROOK, Lantau Hong Kong's choice The letter headlined ''One country, two systems' is a fig leaf' (August 11) surpasses any previous vicious attacks levelled on Hong Kong's system and economic and social well-being. No doubt, Roy Prouse's malicious schadenfreude will resonate with some mindless voters on September 12 and aid those who harbour a hate-China sentiment. I am a retired Hongkonger living mostly in New Jersey, US. With the highest median income per capita in the union, New Jerseyans pay the highest federal taxes while getting back much less politically. Why doesn't New Jersey secede? Because we probably would not live half as well as we do now. Hong Kong relies on the mainland in markets, labour, sourcing and provisioning. It is remarkable that we are better off in per capita income than the European Union when our skill levels, institutions and governance are still way below First World standards. The discontents of the special administrative region originate from our ingratitude and bloated expectations. This applies equally to some expatriates with mediocre skills living off the fat of the land in my beloved hometown. Hongkongers of course have their choice. Either we cut off our nose to spite our face by spiting China and lowering our standard of living to 1970s levels, or we accept a privileged status in a Greater China nation. This entails obligations that are common in western unions - the curtailment of some state rights. Lest Hongkongers forget, they do not have to give up one penny, much less 30 per cent to 40 per cent of their income, to Beijing. Mr Prouse talks not about Chinese communism today, which is non-existent, but about ancient history. He did not bring up the worse behaviour of the former mother country, when Britain engaged in the slave trade. Maybe he thinks Hongkongers should be grateful because Chinese had to tolerate only minor unpleasantries, such as 'Chinamen and dogs not allowed' signs in British concessions, but never had to suffer cruelly, like the slaves in North American cotton fields and sugar mills in the Caribbean. WILLIAM MAK, Oradell, US Press freedom at risk? With a clear ruling from the High Court, the dust has settled on the legality of the ICAC's search actions against a number of newspapers, amidst a chorus of rejoicing for the freedom of the press in Hong Kong. While I fully support this ruling, I have only one lingering question: was press freedom ever at risk in this incident? The ICAC was taking action on the basis of the Witness Protection Ordinance, under which it is an offence to reveal the identity of witnesses. This ordinance does not grant any exemption for members of the press, and the media itself would be the first to acknowledge that it is not above the law, and that 'press freedom' has its legal limits. In assessing whether the ICAC's action has infringed press freedom, the test is to ask whether the commission would have done the same to any other person or organisation that it suspected of committing the offence. I fully agree we need to do everything in our powers to protect freedom of speech in Hong Kong, but it is time the press saw things as they are and did not attribute everything to a conspiracy to curb its freedom. MARGARET LO, Mid-Levels Barrister needs help I consider the Post's reporting on barrister Roderick Murray to be extremely distasteful and quite wrong. This lonely individual clearly needs help, through proper and qualified channels, not ridicule in exposing his embarrassing and very sad situation. He should not be chased around by reporters who seem to be hell-bent on detailing his every move. I feel desperately concerned for him and his family and I truly hope that people who can help will do their very best for him before his situation develops into a hopeless disaster. ANNA McLAUGHLIN, Lantau Nothing to fear I refer to the article 'Senior cleric condemns Mormon Church as a heresy' (August 11). 'Mormon Church' is a nickname given to us due to our belief in a companion book of scripture to the Bible, titled the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The correct name of our faith is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are neither Catholic nor Protestant. Ours is the Church of Jesus Christ, restored by him in 1830, through a prophet, Joseph Smith. We believe that living prophets today hold the same authority and receive revelation from Christ, as did the apostles in the New Testament. The Book of Mormon was given to Joseph Smith. More than 116 million copies in 66 languages have been published. Members of this church love the Bible, but also accept the other book as scripture. There are 20,000 church members in Hong Kong - part of 12 million worldwide. In every country, we operate in accordance with the law. We believe in living morally clean and service-filled lives. We believe in good deeds. But they alone will not grant us salvation. It is only through the grace of God and his son that we can receive all of heaven's blessings, including eternal life. Other faiths have nothing to fear from our church. We welcome opportunities to work with them in community service and humanitarian efforts for the benefit of those in need. RICHARD HUNTER, international director of public affairs (Asia), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hong Kong Ethnic cleansing For the sake of historical accuracy I would point out in regard to the letter 'No excuse for murders' (August 12) that some 15 million Germans were ethnically cleansed from Slav eastern Europe after the second world war. About six million Jews died at the hands of the Nazis. While genocide cannot be compared with the forced movement of people, I was discussing ethnic cleansing in my article. In terms of sheer numbers forcibly removed from their homelands for ethnic reasons, the Allied effort remains the largest, at least of the past 100 years, exceeding even that of Stalin. PHILIP BOWRING, Repulse Bay