Q Do you think the police have underplayed the extent of illegal gambling? Worldwide betting is a multibillion-dollar sophisticated international industry where bets of all sorts and odds are available for all kinds of people to hedge their hopes if they have the money to spare. It has now become an open, transparent operation based on free-market principles and is not inhibited by crooks and villains, as suggested by the publicity abounding in Hong Kong. The Jockey Club wants to impress our police force into believing that illegal soccer betting is devilish. But you cannot fool our elite police force, who are ready to act and climb 21 floors to raid illegal gambling dens when they see one - 'Officers go to great heights to raid gamblers' (City, Saturday). They know how far people can go to cut out competition for their business. Therefore the remarks made by the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau Chief Superintendent Choy Kin-cheung are based on experience and in line with duty - which hopefully will see soccer betting being legalised for other reliable bookmakers to accept bets, or be banned altogether. Those insiders from the gambling industry who are mystified or baffled by his comments are the Jockey Club and its caucus of followers ('Police baffle insiders by playing down illegal betting', City, Saturday). Lal Daswani, Nathan Road Q Have you had a Bus Uncle experience? Recently the Bus Uncle effect has spread across the city. Many of us are talking about this 'funny' story and joking about it with friends, like learning the Bus Uncle's tone, wording and gestures. But some people are rational enough to learn from the incident that we should be more considerate towards others. A recent study found many people surveyed felt Hongkongers are inconsiderate, especially when they are in public places - they litter, spit and talk loudly. Of course, I agree 'everyone has pressure', as claimed by Bus Uncle. I agree we should try to release our pressure when we chat with friends - but not in a way that disturbs other people. Tam Chun-tat, Ma Wan As a private car driver, I have encountered many 'Hooting Driver Uncles'. They range from those who will hoot behind you if you don't move for one second when the green light appears, to those who hoot if you slow down. However, we can be proud that Bus Uncle and Elvis did not get into a fight. I'm sure in many other places a brawl would have ensued. But Hongkongers are generally law-abiding. One reader mentioned that nobody intervened. I think that brings out the tolerance level that Hongkongers have unless it is something serious. A good example is the incident reported in the City briefs on June 2, in which five brave passers-by helped to overcome three robbers. Hiew Hon-hiung, Fanling I am sure that this kind of incident is familiar in other countries. According to figures, the number of people who have watched this video clip is more than the audience of The Da Vinci Code, which shows the former is rather attractive. This video clip is rather childish and full of vulgar language. But there are still many Hong Kong people watching the clip. This shows it suits the taste of Hongkongers. I think this video will undermine Hong Kong's image. It will give foreigners a general impression that Hong Kong people are very rude. Hong Kong is a civilised city. It is hard for me to believe that this ridiculous incident would happen here. But when foreign journalists reported this incident, it is rather unbelievable that many Hong Kong people were proud of it. Edmond Choi Pui-hang, Tuen Mun On other matters ... In the article 'Rice losing its place on dinner tables' (May 22), it says consumption of rice, a plentiful, cheap and filling staple food, has dropped in Hong Kong. The tastiest rice is from Thailand but still, the way it is normally cooked, by boiling in water, unlike bread baked with salt and butter, rice is just too bland to eat without some tasty dishes to help it along. The great economic rise in Hong Kong has changed us from two bowls of rice with a bit of salty fish as a meal to a bowl of rice plus big portions of tasty dishes. In fact, I am not surprised that the Cantonese, whose staple is rice, have a highly developed southern regional cooking style rated as the best in China. And Hong Kong has the best Cantonese cooking. We must be thankful that we have moved from economic struggle to opulence and away from the blandness of rice to so many delicious dishes. Name and address supplied
