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SCMP Reporter

How can we reduce the risk of roadside pollution?

The answer is limit the number of private cars. Hong Kong is a place well served by public transport (buses and rail), so having a private car should be a luxury, not a right. A lot of reclamation is being done to build ridiculously expensive roads, bypasses and tunnels.

Increase taxes  on those who want to buy private cars.

Obviously, cars are status symbols but we should value our health more than a big chunk of steel that continuously pollutes the planet.

Cindy Wan, Sheung Wan

How can Hong Kong's tourism image be improved?

I read your reports regarding the way local merchants deal with their clients. I found  it interesting but inadequate as the entire system in Hong Kong is based on, 'Tell the customer anything to make the sale', since  it will never have to deal with that person again.

I have personally had this happen time and time again  and the best suggestion  is: Do your own homework ahead of time and never trust what the merchant says since he has no interest other than to sell you what he has in stock.

A few examples:

In 2005 we bought a Sony  VAIO  notebook for HK$12,500.

We were told that this was the latest model from Sony in Hong Kong but when we got home, the system crashed. We took it back and they replaced  it with a new one and again the system crashed. The next time we said we wanted to return the notebook since this model was unacceptable. The Sham Shui Po merchant refused to take the return and told us it was our problem, not theirs. We went to Sony and were told it was not a Hong Kong model and Sony did not know where it was from.

We then went to CitiBank, where we have a gold credit card that was used for the purchase, and asked for assistance. After four months, they said it was our problem.

In January,  we were in the market for a flat-screen LCD television and went to Mong Kok to see what was available there. After seeing all the stores in the area, one of the merchants presented us with a Special Sharp 32-inch LCD. We were told it was a special price for the weekend and was the  model that had just been replaced in Hong Kong,  hence the promotional  price.

We went ahead and made the purchase and went home. We  did some more research and found this was a very old model (two years old) and was far inferior to the newer models.

We had to fight to get them to agree to let us buy the more expensive one because the one we had already ordered  had been misrepresented.  Since the TV was not to be delivered for three days, they reluctantly agreed.

In February,  we were in the market for a  recordable DVD player but this time we researched all the models and  decided which one met our needs. We then went  to see what the merchants had available and to price the models, and the responses from the merchants were incredible.

All made up things as to what it could do and why this was the best, etc. When we began to ask them for some more information based on what we had researched, they began to hesitate in their replies. In the end, we bought the one we had wanted (Philips) and had them install  it.

The technicians  did not know how the functions worked and had to come out twice and  walk us through other areas a few more times since they did not know how to answer the query and had to consult their  offices.

Having lived here for four years,  I can tell you we would never trust sellers of anything in Hong Kong. I shudder when people come here to buy jewellery or other items where one cannot determine the genuineness of the item.

I find the whole system is based on the process of 'Get what you can NOW' and the best way for me to sum up my experience  is 'Never trust anyone'.

Having lived in Singapore, Europe and the US, my experience  here is absolutely the worst of all, and I candidly believe the system is so poorly architected that it will be extremely difficult to change the  mindset.

Name and address supplied

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen  said that 'any act that would undermine Hong Kong's status as a shopping paradise will not be tolerated'  ('Tsang vows to act on fraudulent shop owners, but offers no specifics', C1,  Tuesday).

It's  a decades-old problem, but the infamous electronics shops along Nathan Road's 'golden mile' that continue to swindle tourists  with their bait-and-switch tactics are still going strong. No action has been taken by the Tourism  Board,  little by the police, not much from the Consumer Council.  Clearly such action has been  tolerated. So, Mr Tsang, forgive me if I have little faith in your quest to 'act' against the  swindlers.

G. Marques, Mei Foo

On other matters ...

TVB Pearl's coverage of the Sevens can only be described as pathetic. As a supporter of  the local team who does not have any inside track for a ticket,  I hoped I could follow the team  on television.

But I am aghast that only one of the team's four games  was aired. Two other pool games were not broadcast. Most disappointing of all was the station even missed the Plate Quarter-Final between Hong Kong and the US on April 1 - the first time in  years that the Hong Kong team has gotten into the Plate Quarter-Finals.

It is a real shame the station  chose to leave out from its coverage most of the  team's performance in one of its best years. I just want Pearl to know that with such substandard coverage, it is doing a huge disservice to the development of the sport in Hong Kong.

Sky Lai, Sha Tin



China’s No 4 official joins in mourning death of Hong Kong tycoon Charles Ho

Donald Tsang becomes Hong Kong’s second chief executive in 2005 – from the SCMP archive

Just move Hong Kong’s HK$2 transport fare qualifying age back to 65

Hong Kong officials’ rising pay doesn’t square with our financial winter

Donald Tsang

Talkback

Sony