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SCMP Reporter

Q Do you think young drivers will be swayed by Initial D?

I am 25 and  have been driving since I was 18.  I have always been a  fan of racing games and movies. I have also been following the Initial D  cartoons for eight years.

Although I  speed  often, I  don't think people will be foolish enough to attempt drifting - where the driver sharply brakes the rear wheels to create a controlled four-wheel skid.

The movie would perhaps influence some youngsters to drive faster, but it is unlikely they will attempt to drift.  The fear of losing grip is so overwhelming I don't think anyone would risk damaging their car or their life.

There are also a lot of  roadblocks and speed cameras, which make it more unlikely. Drifting requires a  wide mountain road with no oncoming traffic, and Hong Kong does not have such roads. Doing it on Route Twisk or in Shek O is next to impossible. So I believe the impact on young drivers would be  minimal.

Dilip Budhrani, Ho Man Tin

On other matters...

The  war against BitTorrent (BT) technology is a most controversial issue because it amounts to a war between the law and technology. The rise of BT gives  people around the globe faster access  to programs than obsolete software such as Kazaa and winMX.

Of course, you must understand that the purpose of BT is to 'share', not to 'sell', which is  ultimately why the media was invented,  to 'share' information among individuals through communication.

Technology growth unintentionally promotes it quicker - the message is clear; the law needs to be revised.

As everything changes with time, the laws established long ago are no longer applicable to the present trends in society.

Although the use of BT may seem to be unlawful to some, it is definitely a convenient tool for enhancing communication between  people.

The incentive for Hong Kong, like most techno-driven cities,  is that it needs to continuously adapt  to compete with rapidly techno-developing cities, such as Shanghai.

An essential skill in transforming this written recipe into action is efficiency.

BT satisfies Hong Kong as it is empathetic with its people's obsession with saving time; the short amount of time required to transfer the newest movies or songs is like pollen to a bee.

Living under this tense competitive atmosphere, it is apparent that Hong Kong people will not give up this opportunity to save  time.

Hong Kong people will  risk it simply because they know  the police will need to be very skilled to  catch them.

The battle between the law and technology poses one main threat to the public - the confusion among the two opponents in this conflict.

It is undeniable that both the law and technology work together in a balance to promote society's further advancement.

The balance is disrupted and this situation poses threats to both sides' stability.

The technology continues to grow despite the obstacles presented by the law. The public's concern for a conclusion in this matter is growing due to the law's strong opposition to BT.

Either governmental technology has to start keeping up with the pace of the advancement in BT, or the legalisation of BT must be achieved to attain peace between the two - the law and technology.

Chan Kwai-yee, Tai Koo

As a long-time resident in Hong Kong, I bring up a small point in the reports on the Kissel court case regarding the location of the Park View apartment complex.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but surely the complex is closer to the Wong Nai Chung Reservoir? And also closer to Wong Nai Chung Gap Road  rather than Tai Tam, which is miles away from the scene of the murder?

Name and address supplied

Hong Kong - live it, love it? But with people like the taxi driver we hired recently, who was so rude, no.

I took my friend from Pacific Place to the Airport Express in Central in a taxi on  Sunday afternoon. She  had a huge suitcase, which I helped her put in  the boot as  the driver did not bother to help us.

He charged $19.90 for the fare plus $20 for extra luggage and yet  didn't bother to help us, even when we asked for his assistance. He was so unfriendly and kept muttering under his breath.  Is this really a world-class city?

Dayleen M. Reas, Tai Tam

Let's save the historic pillars and staircase which are at the officers' quarters at the Hollywood Road premises.

Having taken a stroll around the charming neighbourhood of the former site of the Hollywood Road police officers' quarters, which is now on the list for land auction, I agree that the  stone walls and the many old trees should be  protected.

There are other important relics there which equally deserve to be protected.

There are a number of granite pillars along the boundary wall of the quarters, which can be seen in old photographs of Central School constructed in 1884.

On the Staunton Street side of the compound, there is  a well-preserved staircase built from granite blocks with elegantly carved edges.

Judging from its architecture,  this staircase undoubtedly also dates back to the Central School.

There are also two unusual underground passages around the junction of Aberdeen Street and Staunton Street. These could be the relics of underground toilets and could be of historical interest to locals and tourists alike.

Along the Sun Yat-sen Heritage Trail, many display boards   name the former site of an old building which has long perished without a trace of its original construction.

As collections of artefacts  are openly being sought for the  Sun Yat-sen Museum currently being developed,  we cannot  afford to destroy the relics of the Central School once attended by Dr Sun.

I am therefore urging the government to conduct a thorough heritage survey around the quarters and to do  its best to preserve these relics.

It is time we abandoned our old way of thinking  that  old relics are obstacles to new developments, but rather regard them as assets.

The most impressive architecture is one that respects the old amid the new.

J. T. H. Kwong, Central



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