Just how many jets does one person need? I read with interest your story about Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau Luen-hung, ('Tycoon buys US$153m jet', May 23). It's interesting to note that this is in addition to three other jets he owns. I know there are wealthy Hong Kong people known to spend their money extravagantly (pink Rolls-Royce, million-dollar dancing lessons, gold bathrooms, etc), but how many private jets does a person need? There are numerous charitable organisations here which could use greater private-sector funding to help alleviate poverty, fund education programmes and provide basic living necessities to the disadvantaged segments of the population. I wonder whether those who wield the greatest amount of corporate influence feel a social responsibility to contribute back to the community? I have always felt that the civility of a nation - or in this case, an administrative region - is measured by the degree to which those with the greatest power and wealth are able to help the most vulnerable within the community. Milton Kiang, Mid-Levels We deserve pay rise, Mr Tien It looks like civil servants and, by association, school teachers such as myself will finally be given a pay rise, though I tend to regard it as a restoration, considering the three pay cuts that we have had to endure since 1997. Yet James Tien Pei-chun, leader of the Liberal Party, insists that he and his party will vote against it in the Legislative Council. This, when in all likelihood the vast majority of Hong Kong people feel that the rise is justified, given the buoyant state of the economy. Mr Tien, who lives on The Peak but represents New Territories East where I live, is never to be seen in his constituency. As one of his constituents, is he not meant to represent me and my aspirations? I would like to explain to him how the economic downturn has taken 50 per cent off the value of my property, leaving me in negative equity. I would like him to explain why The Link Reit Management Limited keeps putting up rents of the property they manage by considerably more than the rate of inflation. In my case, my car parking space will go up again by another 10 per cent on June 1, just as it did last year. How is it that the chairman of Manhattan Holdings, one of the wealthiest and most influential people in Hong Kong, knows so little about basic economics? Doesn't he know that increased incomes generally lead to a rise in consumption, which benefits entrepreneurs like himself? How can Mr Tien justify the fact that the prices of garments in his family's retail outlets are consistently raised by more than the rate of inflation? Mr Tien, we cannot all aspire to live on The Peak or drive a Porsche like you, but I would like to be able to replace my 11-year-old car one day, buy some new clothes, and take my family for a holiday once in a while. Steven Wong, Sha Tin Visa procedures are too rigid David Eldon's call and proposals for speeding up immigration procedures ('One step ahead', May 24) are very appropriate. In addition to the suggestions of a temporary employment visa and a more considerate definition of the term 'work', I would like to propose a few more adjustments. At present, visas for work or investment must be obtained before coming to Hong Kong. Although the Immigration Department already processes a significant number of applications in Hong Kong, a formal adjustment of this requirement would enable entrepreneurial spirits to come here as tourists, secure an employment offer, and then apply locally for the (temporary) employment visa. Second, I propose a review of the requirements for a successful applicant - whether as an employee, or someone who starts a business. I propose we should make it easier for young people with qualifications to come here, and for businesses to give them a chance to prove themselves at a starter salary. Once they had proved themselves, employers would be keen to pay the market rate to keep them. Investors who want to try their luck in setting up a business should be given a chance to start on their terms. Our legal system is robust enough to limit the risks associated with defaults. Hong Kong is an expensive place to survive, and the good ones will. In the process of getting started and proving themselves, they would contribute to the success of Hong Kong's economy. Paul Zimmerman, Central Irony hidden by pollution It is ironic that Hong Kong is hosting the International Conference on Climate Change, which opens today at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, when the city is doing nothing as bold as are its counterparts worldwide. Abundant examples on reducing carbon emissions are readily available for Hong Kong. Toronto, London and New York have announced plans to cut greenhouse gases. As the United States refuses to adopt the Kyoto Protocol, its state governments have set their own reduction and renewable energy targets. Cities such as Bangkok have joined the inter-city initiative to promote energy efficiency in buildings. Australia and Canada will phase out incandescent light bulbs within five years. Hong Kong's greenhouse gas emissions are rising, and were 14 per cent higher in 2005 than the 1990 level, the threshold year for reduction in industrial countries under the Kyoto Protocol. However, the Hong Kong government has yet to set any emissions reduction targets, not to mention for its top emissions source - power plants. The government continues to evade its responsibility and plays down the city's contribution to greenhouse gases. Hong Kong must play its part now, before it is too late. Kevin Li, Greenpeace China Cobbler should stick to his last Jake van der Kamp mainly writes about business and finance, but last week he strayed into the realm of the business of government, and, more specifically, the regulation of tertiary educational institutions in Hong Kong ('Arthur Li could have been more forceful in doing his job', May 24). I fear that in doing so, he has displayed some fundamental misunderstandings. Perhaps the cobbler should stick to his last? There are many ways and areas in which government should strive to be as businesslike as possible, but in the making of new policies it has to operate by a different set of rules, and the fact that it does so contributes to the healthy functioning of society. Areas of policy are not the personal fiefdoms of ministers or senior civil servants; major changes in policy are made by the chief executive on the advice of the Executive Council. In the process of policy formulation, great weight will be given to the expert advice of the minister involved. There are many unsatisfactory things in the administrative framework of Hong Kong, mainly the disjointed relationship between the executive and legislative branches, but this approach to policy-making is not one of them. Rachel Cartland, Mid-Levels
