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SCMP Reporter

Q Should prostitutes be driven off the streets?

This has been going on for ages. Anyone enjoying a coffee at the Starbucks next to the Kowloon Hotel will notice prostitutes in the area. The other area is in Tsim Sha Tsui East, closer to the Nikko Hotel.   To be honest, there's no way to drive them off the streets.  There are also dozens and dozens along Shanghai Street in Yau Ma Tei and Mongkok, so what would be the  point of cleaning up Tsim Sha Tsui,  but not Mongkok?

Harry Chen, Tsuen Wan

Hong Kong is an international city. If there are prostitutes around the luxury hotels   offering sex, foreigners'  impression of Hong Kong  will be degraded.

However, sex workers have a right to make money and the police can do nothing about that. I think they should not be driven off the streets, but the government should develop a red-light district for them to work in.

Ma Siu Yee, Sha Tin

How can we tolerate this disgraceful, shameful act outside our world-class hotels? Not only does it affect the image of Hong Kong, but it also makes tourists and business  visitors  uncomfortable. Hong Kong is a comparatively prosperous, cosmopolitan city. We do not expect to see prostitutes in busy tourist districts. They should be driven off.

Although some may say that it is difficult to drive them off, we cannot turn a blind eye to the problem. Otherwise, it may encourage them  and more sex workers will loiter outside  hotels. We must remember that tourism accounts for a large proportion of our gross domestic product.

Police can help solve the problem by  checking sex workers' identification cards  or  setting up a database  so  the Immigration Department can better enforce and restrict the entry of mainland prostitutes.

The problem cannot be eliminated, but we can contain it.  Foreign visitors will be glad to see our efforts.

Name and address supplied

I feel not only ashamed but also surprised that so many hookers are offering sex services outside  top hotels.

Hong Kong is said to be an international city and there are lots of tourists arriving every day.

If their first impression is of hookers doing business outside their hotels,  what  do they think about Hong Kong? A sex city?  If this situation continues, the name of Hong Kong will be tarnished and the tourism industry will seriously suffer.

To save our reputation, our tourism industry,  these prostitutes should be driven away.

Amy Lee Kar-yan, Shamshuipo

I was really angry that sex workers  are expanding their working areas to prestigious hotels.

I am not saying  there must be no prostitutes in Hong Kong,  but there are  areas where  they can ply their trade.

Now  they are breaking the rules and it is 'anything goes'.  That is why I  think prostitutes must be driven off the streets.

Loitering sex workers should stay in  red-light districts.

I would be really mad if I found sex workers wandering along corridors outside my hotel room when I am travelling abroad - it is  disturbing and disrespectful.

Name and address supplied

Q Should Kai Tak aviation services be retained?

Forget it. The cost of reinstating Kai Tak to even a third of what it was is prohibitive. There are also safety problems and a string of other factors to consider. After all, there is surplus capacity  at the present airport to  handle  extra demand.  Leave Kai Tak alone. Let the good memories be with us forever.

John C.T. Chiu, Sai Kung

Q Should legislation control junk phone calls?

Legislation should be introduced to control junk phone calls. The promotional calls disturb people who are asked to answer many questions and have to endure  a lot of boring promotional information.  Often they will call you again and again, even after you tell them you are not interested. Only legislation can stop them.

Daniel Kwan, Ngau Tau Kok

Q Should outdoor workers be allowed to knock off when the API hits the severe mark?

How are outdoor workers meant to know when the  air pollution index hits the severe mark? Maybe we need signals outside every building or on  television to indicate severe pollution. But then this administration has always veered away from giving the public the true facts.

Name and address supplied



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