I agree that in order to maintain Hong Kong's competitive edge in the global economy, we must nurture talents proficient in English. Learning hinges on the attitudes, determination and perseverance of students, as well as teaching strategies. Students' English proficiency can be enhanced if they have a positive attitude, teachers teach the language through effective teaching pedagogies, and schools create a rich language environment outside the classroom to increase students' exposure to English and motivate them to learn.

A research study we recently commissioned to the University of Hong Kong has identified some good practices by schools in promoting English-language learning. Cultivating students' interest in learning and encouraging them to take risks with the use of English have proved to be effective, irrespective of the medium of instruction adopted.

In the consultation document on the medium of instruction for secondary schools, it is proposed that Chinese-medium schools may allocate up to 15 per cent of the lesson time at standard one to standard three levels for English-medium extended learning activities. Together with the lesson time allocated to learning English as a subject, these students' exposure to English could amount to about one-third of their lesson time. With more effective strategies in promoting the learning of English, coupled with more exposure, I am confident that mother-tongue teaching and proficiency in English can be achieved simultaneously.

FANNY LAM for the secretary for education and manpower

Boost HK with migrants

Hong Kong boosting its birth rate to compensate for an ageing population is like a dog chasing its tail ('Incentives may be offered to boost birthrate', February 22).

There are already six billion people in the world suffocating our planet and driving out other species. Is it not irresponsible to suggest adding to the problem - and using taxpayers' money to do it?

The alternative, if one is needed, should lie in encouraging young immigrants from poor, but well-educated, countries like India and the Philippines to find job opportunities here. Is that not win-win? New York City got great through multi-ethnic immigration. Hong Kong should do the same.

JOHN URE, associate professor and director of telecommunications research project, University of Hong Kong

Drop wigs and gowns

Your picture showing judges wearing English medieval robes and wigs showed the world how pitiful the situation in Hong Kong is ('Top lawyers urge legal reform', February 18). Seems to me that the people of Hong Kong have no self-respect at all.

Hong Kong got rid of the colonial government in 1997 and rejoined the motherland. Now, more than seven years later, you still have a court system under Chinese sovereignty retaining the old English tradition. This is insulting to all Chinese. These judges and barristers are saying they still consider themselves to be serving under England.

The only explanation for why the Hong Kong authorities allow this is that they also consider themselves to be still under colonial rule. The people of Hong Kong deserve better than this.

R. SYDNEY CHAN, Edmonds, Washington, US

Special kind of service

I support the letter 'ESF's service record' (February 19) from Paul Adams, who opposed the claim that the English Schools Foundation hardly participates in any inter-school activities or social services.

My daughter studied in the ESF from 1998 to 2002. Each year she was involved in a number of big and small projects arranged by the school to serve the community.

The ESF's culture imparts a different point of view to the children when they serve others. They are not just doing it for their academic record - they learn to see the world through the community.

My daughter also made a few good friends through inter-school activities, not only at other international schools, but at local schools too. I would say the ESF has done a good job.

J. CHU, Clear Water Bay

Sympathy for all victims

In 'Holocaust sympathies' (February 19), Keith J. Oderberg appears to have misunderstood the thrust of my letter 'Holocaust questions' (February 16).

Part of my third paragraph read 'Do Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and those who think like him come to court with clean hands?' and my original paragraph ended with the words 'if they were silent, do they deserve the sympathy they seek to elicit'? I intended the 'they' to refer to Mr Sharon and like thinkers.

My questions (which have not been answered) sought to determine whether the Jewish brotherhood at large did everything it could to alleviate the suffering of a part of that brotherhood and of other people and my thrust was that, if it did not, then what moral justification does the leader of the state of Israel have for criticising the efforts of Britain, which, for a time, stood alone against the Nazis and helped to bring the injustices against Jews to an end.

Mr Oderberg is right, I did not mention bringing an end to injustices suffered by others because the others have not criticised the British. Thus it was irrelevant. Like other reasonable and aware individuals, I have sympathy for all who have suffered ethnic cleansing and nowhere did my letter say or infer otherwise.

COLIN CAMPBELL, Mid-Levels

Helping jobless grads

The letter 'Graduate quality fallen' (February 22) contained some unreasonable suggestions on how to reduce the number of graduates in Hong Kong since they earn so little.

It is not a good idea to restrict admission to universities to the brightest, as this would oppose lifelong learning. Also, one aim of education is to combat illiteracy. A restriction such as this would indirectly worsen the problem, and Hong Kong would lose competitiveness.

The root of the problem is the lack of job opportunities. The government should offer preferences to business people to encourage them to come to Hong Kong and thus create more job opportunities. Hongkongers should come up with ideas so a conclusion can be reached as soon as possible. We must change the tradition that no decision is made after discussion.

KO YUEN-TING, Aberdeen