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SCMP Reporter

Expansion of rail network essential for HK
The negative comments made by Jake van der Kamp in his  Monitor column ('High-speed train just the ticket for bureaucratic waste', January 16) on high-speed railways in general and Victor Fung Kwok-king's comments on Hong Kong railway development in particular ('HK must mesh with mainland rail network or else, says business chief', January 14), cannot go unchallenged.
No railway in the world operates on a true 'commercial basis' but then, neither does any other major transport system.
All railways provide a mass transport facility with huge social benefits: however, to make them affordable they must be subsidised.
High-speed trains operate at a 'profit' in many countries, but the government provides for their construction costs.
The comments made by Dr Fung on future railway development in Hong Kong are correct.
High-speed railway services are spreading across Europe. Most travel between London and Paris is now by Eurostar train, which at 300km/h is both quicker and cheaper than flying.
These new lines are an economic necessity resulting from increased trade between European nations. It is not acceptable to blame 'bureaucrats' in Beijing for constructing some 10,000km of new high-speed lines across China simply for 'national prestige'. Over the past few years business news from  the mainland has described how its existing railway network is grossly overloaded.
As a result of  the mainland's continuing development, the situation is rapidly deteriorating.
The new passenger-only lines will relieve the existing lines to provide urgently required capacity for freight traffic.
With construction of most of the  mainland high-speed railway network planned by 2012, it is essential that Hong Kong's minor link (25km) is in place as soon as possible. This will provide direct high-speed train services to most of the major cities on the mainland.  The first 'Chinese' high-speed railway (a project which I worked on) opened in Taiwan between Taipei and Kaohsiung (340km) a year ago.
It has been so successful that domestic flights between Taipei and its west coast cities have almost been eliminated with a consequent reduction in noise and air pollution from aircraft.
In Hong Kong, the use of high-speed railway services could similarly result in a reduction in demand for local air traffic into China.
With its international airport reaching capacity, the need for a third runway at the airport may be avoided.
Michael Baxter, Tuen Mun
Give museum new home
The Central waterfront development is indeed a major opportunity to give Hong Kong people back their harbour. It is a challenge. Getting it right matters. And in that exercise getting the mix of commerce, open space and heritage, is the key.
It was with some surprise, therefore, that we at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, in reading the front page story ('Development cut on Central waterfront', January 16) and editorial ('Central rethink shows government is listening', January 16), found no mention of the maritime museum and its proposal to be given new premises on the waterfront in question. Surely a museum that tells the story of Victoria Harbour, of its ships, its sailors, its wharves, ferries, tugs, lightermen, stevedores, pilots and all the rest of the rich historical mosaic that is our maritime past is the perfect fit?
Where better could Hong Kong's maritime museum be? What element in the planned development would better place Asia's world city alongside its port city peers - from New York to Barcelona, Genoa to San Francisco, Sydney to Hamburg, Glasgow to Vancouver - than at Pier 8 of the Star Ferry piers?
The project has recently had the backing of the Home Affairs Panel of the Legislative Council. It is supported by the Home Affairs Bureau, the Tourism Commission and senior members of the administration. We should not delay establishing this museum at Pier 8.
Stephen Davies, museum director, Hong Kong Maritime Museum
Pollution has ruined the view
Ten years ago the view from The Peak was fantastic - a clear view of Kowloon and the harbour.
Now, we can see very little of the hills of Kowloon or indeed much of Kowloon itself thanks to the removal of height restrictions and the increase of building heights on Hong Kong.
Pollution also frequently obscures what remains of the view.
It is no wonder that tourists think twice before spending to see it.
Wai Lai Ti-lai, Mui Wo
Keep quiet on MTR trains
I am concerned about the noise in MTR compartments.
In Japan, people only type SMS messages instead of talking freely and loudly in a train compartment. In addition, they will only receive a phone call outside the compartment to avoid disturbing the other passengers. You will not find a group of people discussing a matter loudly on a bus that is annoying other passengers.
These are examples of considerate behaviour in Japan.
In Hong Kong, however, people use their mobile phone freely in MTR compartments. Some of them talk loudly and swear.
I have even sometimes seen young people and adults playing personal stereos without headphones, so other passengers are forced to listen.
I think that education is a key element.  It is up to the  MTR Corporation to try and educate its passengers to be more considerate.
We might have to go further and enact laws punishing people for  inconsiderate behaviour.
If it is possible for the Japanese to behave properly on public transport, then it should be feasible for Hong Kong people to also behave properly.
Jeff Leung, Wong Tai Sin
Backing Obama for White House
In response to Kishore Mahbubani's 'The world's choice?' (January 14), I definitely agree  that Barack Obama is the most outstanding candidate in the US presidential race. Hillary Clinton may have an advantage of having experience and being female but what makes Senator  Obama an ideal candidate is the fact that he has a clean slate.
Senator Clinton may have experience  but many judge her by her record. Many also compare Senator Clinton to her  husband and how he ran the office [of president], which may be unfair.
I personally did not know that Senator Obama even existed until the election campaign began.
He is getting a lot of attention because he is an African American but I believe he deserves this attention, because he seems to me to be a  'people' person.
He didn't have a sheltered, wealthy childhood like some of the other candidates. So many voters will see him as understanding and will accept him as one of the 'common' people.
This is one of the most important elections in American history because it will show how much America has changed to become a racially tolerant country with equality for men and women.  I am not an American citizen but this election, as Mahbubani said, will affect the rest of the world, because the US is such an influential nation.
I am confident that Senator Obama will win this election.
Bryan Andrew Lee, Mid-Levels



Letters