How hard is it to get the work-life balance right here? It is really not easy to get the right work-life balance in Hong Kong. This is true for people who are working and for students. Experts emphasise the importance of getting enough sleep, but there are still a lot of people who, because of their heavy workload, do not get enough sleep. Why do so many of us have such workloads? For students, there are only so many university places available and only the most diligent young people will earn a place. In this atmosphere of fierce competition, students do not get the work-life balance right. In some extreme cases, students have taken their own lives. Hong Kong people are always busy with their work. Their employers seldom let them have holidays, especially in October, as this is the peak season for trading and a busy month for exhibitions. Those employees who get a long break often find it difficult to catch up when they return to the workplace. And some hard-working people take some work with them to do on holiday. In such cases, what is the point of taking the holiday when they cannot properly relax? If the government wants to change this culture of work, it faces an uphill struggle. I would like to see changes in the education system, so students are not under such pressure, and a slower pace of life for Hong Kong's employees. Even if the government does try to improve the situation, it will meet with a lot of resistance. Ho Kezz Kringle Uy, Tsuen Wan How can swimming safety be improved? I was shocked to read about the 50 people who had to be rescued from the sea at beaches in Hong Kong ('50 rescues in 2 days: lifeguards call for help', October 2). Even though the red flag had been hoisted and verbal warnings were issued repeatedly asking people not to go into the water, swimmers still leapt into the waves. This was a very dangerous thing to do. It is clear from what happened that weekend that the red flag system, in its present form, is inadequate. The relevant authorities have to get the message across to people, through the media, what the red flag means. Also, the government should introduce penalties, such as fines, for people who go into the sea when the red flag has been hoisted. Candy Lam, Sau Mau Ping Should domestic helpers be given more protection? T. Narain says, 'While you are asking readers this question, you should also be asking about the protection for employers and their family members from domestic helpers' (Talkback, October 8). I confess! Like the domestic helpers observed by T. Narain, I am guilty of the crime of using a mobile phone while holding a child's hand. The shame, lock me away now. If T. Narain wants to imply the domestic helpers involved were, somehow, being negligent in their actions, then some more details are required. From the description given, the children were under control, safe, and the carer was just talking. What's the problem? Maybe it was the employer on the other end. Allan Dyer, Wong Chuk Hang On other matters ... I have been reading about the Free Hugs movement ('A call to arms', October 5), which has reached Hong Kong. Hong Kong, like every other cosmopolitan city, is a place of hustle and bustle. You see people making their way along the street, seldom paying attention to others. I was also once like that, but I realise now that life should be about more than that. We should not just focus on ourselves. I now realise that when I show my love and care for others, those emotions are returned. One way to show these feelings is through hugging. That is why I am in favour of the Free Hugs movement. It does not hurt anyone, it will cost you nothing and it conveys a message of love and care to the people around you. Polly Chan, Kwun Tong The Free Hugs movement has become popular in the west, but I see no reason for us to imitate westerners. Such behaviour would not be acceptable to most Chinese. In Chinese society, people seldom show their affection through physical contact because they are relatively conservative. But this does not mean that the Chinese never show others their love. There are ways of showing that you care other than physical contact. One way is just by talking. Through communication you can show you care about other people. I would be concerned about the hygiene aspects of hugging and also worried about pickpockets. I don't see why we Chinese should support this hugging movement just because it has become popular with a lot of westerners. Take me, for example. I would not hold my parents' hands or hug them. Perhaps it is because I feel embarrassed, but the real reason is that holding hands means nothing. It is just a form of physical contact. Chan Chak-hin, Tseung Kwan O The purpose of installing a set of traffic lights is to ensure pedestrian safety. However, that is not the case when it comes to the new traffic lights set up for vehicles navigating left to City Garden Road, North Point. I have observed drivers, either deliberately or because they are just careless, ignoring the traffic signal. Last Friday at about 7.45am when I was trying to cross that section of road, the driver of a school minibus and a private car driver deliberately ignored the traffic signal. When I saw the pedestrian green light on, I tried to cross the road from the City Garden Hotel. After a few paces, these two drivers did not pull up but jumped the traffic lights. Even though I shouted at them and pointed at the still-on pedestrian green light, they just sped off so fast that I had no time to check their car plates. It is clear that this new set of traffic lights, near the City Garden Hotel is actually failing to do what is intended - to make sure pedestrians can cross safely. I would be grateful if the relevant authority could take appropriate action to ensure that pedestrians are adequately protected. Iris Wong, Sai Kung
