Q How can the Hungry Ghost Festival rice distribution be made safer? The cruel tragedy of the elderly woman who died for her share of free rice and the frequent occurrences of stampedes in Hong Kong for handouts of rice bags - as if we are in a tsunami-affected region - suggests that the boom in our economy is not a productive one reaching a cross-section of the community, but a speculative one that is centred on filling the pockets of the few and mighty. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening and the population of people below the poverty line is increasing. Nalini Daswani, New York Q How can the public help to slow global warming? Slowing global warming should be done on a daily basis. In fact, most of us have some idea about how to protect our environment, but why has so little action been taken? If we do not wake up to the danger, the pollutants will ruin our home soon. On an individual level, we can all try to use fewer plastic bags and travel by public transport instead of driving cars. For companies, they can use environmentally friendly materials to make their products. For government, they can set up policies to monitor companies for pollution problems and educate citizens about environmental protection. The only way to protect our home is for everyone to be responsible. Cheung Hoi Lam, Kwun Tong On other matters ... People have recently paid more attention to what to do about dilapidated old buildings. The reality is that proper maintenance can be very costly, especially when competent contractors and building professionals are engaged to do the work. Buildings age with time and so do many of their owners in old areas like Mongkok. With declining earning power, these owners just cannot afford essential maintenance. Since their homes do not have much redevelopment value they can't expect windfalls from the major property players. The only way is for government to step in, preferably in a way that is least burdensome to the public. I think the Urban Renewal Authority has a role to play. With their expertise, they can help property owners procure good professional service and obtain favourable financial arrangements from the banks. The government will only need to strengthen their hand by offering tax relief in certain cases. John P.L. Wong, Pokfulam I am a resident of Tung Chung. I have lived here very happily for the past five years and I am writing to ask the media to stop creating bad press for Tung Chung and Lantau. It is most irritating when journalists, who have no firsthand experience of actually living in Tung Chung, portray such a negative image of a pleasant community I have come to regard as my home. On Friday, September 2, ATV aired a 'documentary' about Tung Chung and Lantau produced by Radio Television Hong Kong. After watching the programme, I was appalled at how the producer presented such a bleak representation of life in Tung Chung. They interviewed one resident who, as usual, complained about the air quality and the fact that Tung Chung is no Garden of Eden. She said the government promised her 'paradise' when she moved to Tung Chung eight years ago, but now there is nothing to do here. Well, I do not want to be harsh, but I would like to point out that anyone who believes what the government says is rather naive. Moreover, the whole reason Tung Chung is such a great place to live is precisely because there is nothing to do; no karaoke lounges, no crowds, no queues, no traffic jams and no noise. If I want all those things, I just jump on the MTR and head for Kowloon or Central. It seems whenever there is a story about Tung Chung, journalists are quick to point out the problem of air quality. They seem to wash over all the positive sides of living away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I wonder how many journalists actually bother to check the air pollution index produced by the Environmental Protection Department before they write their articles or make their television programmes. On average, Tung Chung enjoyed more hours of low air pollution compared to Central, Western District, Kwai Chung or Sha Tin in the past three months. We actually have lots of good air days and really only a handful of bad days, no worse than anywhere else in Hong Kong. For example in June, Central had 16 hours of high air pollution recorded, while Tung Chung only had eight. The media has created a myth that Tung Chung's air quality is always poor. I suggest journalists check their facts before they make such generalisations. Even better, why not be different and creative and write something positive about Tung Chung? We are minutes away from Hong Kong's biggest country park, historical sites, golden sandy beaches and the gateway to the world. I had many overseas visitors in the summer months and they all loved staying with me in Tung Chung. May I suggest that RTHK invest more time in producing quality educational programmes to raise people's awareness of conservation, such as programmes on how to save, recycle and re-use energy and resources? I relish peace and quiet. As I am writing this letter, I am enjoying a stunning sunset descending on the horizon of Tung Chung Bay. I wonder how many of you can experience such close encounters with nature living in the heart of the city? Y. Chan, Tung Chung
