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SCMP Reporter

Q How tough should the government be on illegal cafes?

The simple answer is that if they are not properly licensed and controlled by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, they are a hazard to community health and should be closed immediately.

I would like to ask York Chow Yat-ngok why no action has been taken against the  curry messes in Chungking Mansions? The standard of hygiene in some of their kitchens must be seen to be believed. If they are allowed to operate under the guise of clubs,  it would be nothing but a disgraceful sham. As far as I am aware, none  requires patrons to become members before enjoying a meal.

John Wilson, Yau Ma Tei

I read with interest the comments of the Secretary for Health on unlicensed cafes. He mentions problem areas being Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay, but what about the illegal restaurants in Sai Kung?

Why are they  treated differently? These premises are in residential buildings, have no licences, breach building regulations and have been operating undisturbed for 18 years, according to press reports. Can the health chief please explain the lack of action?

What has the  department been doing all these years?

Name and address supplied

Q Should the government pass laws to control spam?

Two years ago my wife and I changed our internet provider from Netvigator to So-net. Basic reasons were the broadband speed offered at that time plus economy. We had been experiencing massive spam intrusion using the Netvigator service. Happily we  had a very satisfactory experience with So-net and virtually no spam. To our dismay, we were then advised that So-net had sold  its service to Netvigator.

We were informed by So-net that we could keep the same e-mail address. However shortly after this,  Netvigator stated that  all people with So-net addresses would be required to change over to a Netvigator address.

My wife spent a long time arguing with the Netvigator help line, which tried to insist we must change. Eventually they admitted it was not necessary and that we could in fact maintain our old address. However, much to our annoyance,  we are now being subjected to spam. Each day brings more and more. The recent discussions regarding penalising spam originators fails to deal with the iniquitous practice of internet providers supplying addresses to other parties, or simply doing nothing to stop spam.

We are furious with Netvigator. It can be no coincidence that after almost two years of spam-free e-mail, we are now receiving daily spam messages for loans, mortgages and all the usual uninvited adverts. Explain yourselves, Netvigator!

David Hulme, Discovery Bay

Q What do you think of the TST improvement plans?

The Architectural Services Department needs to stay clear of the TST waterfront.  It is utterly lacking in any design sense, positively behind the times and very narrow sighted. You guys screwed up the Cultural Centre; why do you want to humiliate the city any further?

Name and address supplied

Q Have police done enough to improve safety in public parks?

I must take issue with Kyle Fu, who  thinks the police are not doing enough to protect the public in country parks. What more can they do! These parks are huge. The police have limited manpower. I walk regularly in Sai Kung and frequently see  police officers trudging the hillsides.

Hong Kong remains one of the safest places in the world. The police force, by Asian standards, is competent. The crime rate is low. The knee-jerk reaction of the media to isolated incidents such as the recent robberies  damages Hong Kong's reputation and  affects the general feeling of wellbeing of the  public.

Ashra Tung, Sai Kung

Q Should the government cut the duty on diesel fuel?

The government shouldn't cut the duty on diesel fuel. Cheaper diesel fuel will just produce more toxic chemicals. The diesel tax is the best way to reduce traffic and improve air quality. Moreover, it will encourage people to take public transport.

However, in order not to give bus companies an excuse to raise bus fares, I reckon the government should set up another taxation system for buses.

Jacques Ho, Yuen Long

On other matters...

No doubt disruptions to MTR services are an occasional inconvenience for the public. However, in comparison to services almost anywhere else in the world, the MTR is  outstanding in terms of price, cleanliness and good organisation.

It is most unwise of legislators to conjure up mock outrage at the slightest delay and to put pressure on the MTR to avoid disruptions at any cost. The obvious danger is that safety aspects will be ignored  as the MTR bows to such unreasonable demands.

In my view the MTR should continue to stop the trains immediately if there is the slightest danger to the travelling public, whatever the laments of legislators.

It would be tragic indeed if this lesson were to be learnt through a major accident.

Name and address supplied



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