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SCMP Reporter

Q Do you think it is unhealthy to suppress sexual desire?

I am writing in response to the article 'Students pledge to save sex for wedlock' (C3, February 12). As a participant in the student event,  I do think it is necessary - not unhealthy - to suppress sexual desire. Sex is natural and wonderful.

But I am opposed to  premarital sex and sex outside marriage. Young people have sexual thoughts and desires, but that doesn't mean we have to gratify such needs.  We should be able to exercise control over our desires.

I take offence at the suggestion that  young people lack knowledge about sex and sex precautions. Sex education starts in primary school and continues in secondary school. Even in biology, we learn more about the various precautionary methods and the principles behind them.

The government has been promoting sex education and the need for precautions, but that doesn't seem to be very effective in  curbing underage sex.  Merely knowing about the precautions is not enough - we have to bring our own sexual desires under control.

Does it do more harm to suppress sexual desire than to  give in to it?

I believe suppressing sexual desire is not a matter of mental health,  it is a necessity.

Stephanie Yiu, Discovery Bay

Q What do you think of the findings on class sizes?

I am a Primary Six student in  Hong Kong. I strongly disagree with the view that class size does not affect the quality of teaching.

Teachers in small classes can pay more attention to individual pupils.  In large classes,  they can't do this because they don't have enough time to help each pupil individually.  However, teachers in small classes can teach the class and also help individuals, so pupils' standards improve as well as the class standard.

In a large class, pupils can 'hide' from the teacher.  But teachers in small classes know if students are having problems and can follow their progress.

In large classes, you have a lot of pupils at different levels. The teachers cannot teach effectively because,  if their teaching is aimed at the best pupils, the others will lag further behind.

But if their teaching is aimed at the slower learners, those at a higher level will get bored. In smaller classes, the students are likely to be on similar levels.  Therefore, the teacher would not have to worry about students not understanding or getting bored.

Many people think that the government  would need to spend a lot of money to implement small classes. But it's not about money. Knowledge is the most important issue.

Better educated people would mean more income for Hong Kong, so the cost of the small classes would be recouped.

Beatrice Yeung, Happy Valley

Q Does Hong Kong need the South and West Island MTR lines?

Hotels are being planned at Ocean Park and development between Pok Fu Lam and Aberdeen has been rampant. Huge high rises are going up. And, again, all of this is being done without the proper infrastructure in place to cope with the increase in people and cars.

Anyone who lives in the south will disagree with the 'no traffic jam' assessment ('Low priority for South Island Line', C4, February 13).

Clearly, no one from Legco has ever sat in the jams at the Aberdeen tunnel  or squeezed their way through Kennedy Town to get up to Pok Fu Lam.

These two bottlenecks are the prime access to the south side. Already they are feeling the strain. Building the line will give tourists proper access  to Ocean Park and their hotels, better access to Cyberport, which may finally become more attractive to tenants, and open up opportunities to Aberdeen,  with its factories  crying out to be recycled as cool loft living space.

But, most importantly, a decision as to when the line should go ahead should never, ever rest with the minibus lobby. If I had my way there would be no more minibuses in Hong Kong.  The minibus drivers' dangerous driving practices, including stopping  wherever and whenever they  choose, in the middle of the road and on street corners,  make them a liability to all other drivers.

Their lobby has  too much influence. How can you possibly equate the jobs of 300 people with the overall needs of thousands, especially as the minibuses will find new routes anyway?

Furthermore, for the sake of our environment, we should be encouraging the use of rail  rather than road.

Karen Prochazka, Shouson Hill

I have lived in Pok Fu Lam over the past two years and seldom go to Cyberport. The development hardly qualifies as a 'shopping complex'.

It has been more than two years since the grand opening and yet the mall is vastly empty. It is a shame as the mall is so spacious and the architecture is so beautiful. So far, the stores are turnoffs. How often do people shop for wedding gowns, get married in a mall  wedding chapel, or purchase toys from Wise Kids?

With hardly any dining options except a selected few fast-food outlets in the food court, the mall has been a disappointment.

With an MTR line to Cyberport in development, I strongly urge the government and the developers of Cyberport to activate the future-tech development. Currently, the most popular attraction is the Broadway Cinemas. Not only are tickets reasonably cheap, the seats and sound system are great.

With so many residential and office buildings in the surrounding area, I am positive that restaurants and shops in Cyberport  would take in  strong revenue. The government can also promote more events, such as last year's Cirque du Soleil, by Cyberport.

If more attractions and transport were available, the general public  would take a stronger interest in visiting the centre.

Grace Lien, Pok Fu Lam

On other matters...

A government department planted a row of palm trees near the underpass on Connaught Road Central a few weeks ago.

They are now in a very sorry state as most of the fronds have died, with only a glimpse of green in the few which still live.

I'm afraid the palm trees are telling us what the government isn't. The air in Central is deadly!

Joyce Wong, Central



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