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SCMP Reporter

Q Is the government failing to act against illegal taxis?

I  agree with your correspondents Wayne Chu and Robert Nield   on the issue of taxi services. It's time to stop protecting them like they're some sacred breed. Did fares drop during seven years of deflation? No.

They hold illegal protests like the Central blockade and this impotent government does nothing, fearing a bigger backlash.

This is a free job market. No one is forcing  drivers to be taxi drivers. If they are unhappy, they are free to seek other positions. I don't disrupt the public if I am unhappy with my job. Why should they be allowed to?

Over the years, many drivers have become more  sulky and rude.  The other day my fare came to $20.60. I paid $20.50 because that was all the small change I had. The cabbie turned around and scolded me for short-changing him by 10 cents. I said I only had a $500 bill otherwise. He demanded that, then short-changed me by 40 cents. I told him so. He told me where to stick it. Wow, what a professional!

Bernard Lo, Mid-Levels

The article on Monday suggests there is a great deal of muddled thinking, muddled legislation and/or muddled application on this issue, which is probably what led to the suggestion of such a muddled 'solution'.

There are many light vans in Hong Kong that are used to transport various combinations of staff, tools and materials to and from various sites in pursuit of their owners' lawful business; why should they be penalised because the authorities cannot get their act together?

Further, I suggest that the vast majority of 'fares' to and from the airport consist of one or two passengers and their luggage, which this 'solution' would not address. Groups of six or more, with their luggage, should have a legitimate option of travelling together; taxis do not offer this option, but certain operators, licensed for specific combinations of source and destination, do.

First, it should be decided exactly who can and cannot convey fare-paying passengers accompanied by personal luggage, whether to or from the airport or anywhere else. (I previously thought this was decided, but the article sheds doubt on this.)

Second, it should be decided exactly what constitutes 'personal luggage' as opposed to goods.  Third, no one should be allowed to carry fare-paying passengers, and/or goods, unless properly insured to do so. Fourth, the law  should be enforced.

It should not be difficult to devise a formula to define a lower limit for  passengers and luggage that can legitimately travel in a light van, and one that would not have a serious effect on  drivers' income.

Peter Robertson, Sai Kung

Q What should be done to improve animal welfare?

Yesterday's story on Wu Kim-hung's  dog shelter is very sad. I believe it is  time  the government  took animal welfare seriously, especially after a spate of animal cruelty incidents in Hong Kong in recent months.

Whenever there is an animal cruelty incident, the government's  standard response is: 'We will look into the incident and will consider  improving the regime but no decision has been made so far.'

I am really tired of the government's empty 'do all the talk and don't walk the walk' attitude. I strongly believe a top-down revamp of the city's animal protection is urgently needed.

Take a  look at the obsolete and outdated regulatory regime on animal cruelty. In terms of social infrastructure, there are less than a dozen parks that allow dogs in.

The government should strengthen the powers of the  Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department - I'm pretty sure the department can do more than just hunt stray dogs.

The administration should also empower and enhance the role of NGOs such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals  to increase public awareness on animal welfare.

Unlike in many other developed countries, the SPCA's patrol unit is  no more than a rubber stamp in giving verbal warnings to people who abuse animals -  particularly given the fact that it seldom exercises its limited power to join forces with police to prosecute people who are cruel to animals.

Hong Kong, which the government always claims is and positions as Asia's world city, is still a laggard in the region when it comes to animal welfare.

But I do still have faith that our  government  can catch up, given the government's  'can do' spirit.

The government is very capable of achieving a goal if it sets its mind to it. I think it's time Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen  took a serious look beyond  his fish pond and worked something out for animal welfare.

Huang Wei, Yuen Long

Q Is it viable to have smoking rooms in bars and restaurants?

It is absolutely necessary to protect non-smokers, especially children, from the effects of tobacco smoke. If this means that restaurants and bars need to install a sealed smoking room, then so be it.

Perhaps smokers can mull  the discomfort and health risks their habit causes to others while puffing away in a sealed  room. One concern would be how the smoke in such sealed smoking rooms is removed,  as many  buildings are not equipped with the special exhaust ducting needed. A total ban on smoking in the workplace, especially restaurants, clubs and bars, is well overdue.

Let's quickly put in place the necessary health protection for innocent non-smokers.  If children were unable to see smokers exercising their addiction, then perhaps fewer of them would take up the habit?

Iain Seymour-Hart

On other matters ...

The high-profile case concerning plagiarism and Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code   drew my attention to the Hong Kong Tram Company advertisements being displayed for the Paul Smith designer-fashion group.

Surely the slightly pastel multicoloured vertical striped imagery is directly based on a motif commonly used by the Tibetan people, particularly on the very distinctive aprons worn by a huge portion of the female population.

Presumably, when the promotion has run it course, the Paul Smith group will be donating some of the resulting profits to worthy causes on the plateau.

Jason Ali, Sheung Wan



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