bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Should the zoo's jaguar be replaced when it dies?
I don't think  the jaguar should be replaced after it dies.
The jaguar is under threat in the wild as its habitat is disappearing.
It would be expensive for the Zoological and Botanical Gardens  to replace the jaguar.
It would be far better to spend the money on a conservation programme aimed at protecting some of the world's endangered species.
The money could also be used to educate people about the importance of such a programme.
Jenny So, Sau Mau Ping
How can cigarette sales to minors be better policed?
All of us understand the seriousness of selling cigarettes to minors. But how can this problem be solved?
A law does exist which makes it illegal to sell cigarettes to minors and it must be enforced and the appropriate punishment  be meted out.
Even though a law was introduced last year which banned smoking in most public spaces, smoking is still a problem among Hong Kong's youth and there does not appear to be any sign of improvement.
One way, therefore, in which we may be able to curb the habit is to punish vendors who sell cigarettes to minors.
It is a bit like littering. If someone is caught and prosecuted for littering in the street, they are less likely to litter again. Similarly with vendors, they may think twice about selling  cigarettes to a minor if they have  been prosecuted in court.
Although that is a short-term solution to the problem, it could prove effective.
The government should also be looking at more deep-rooted solutions.
Sandy Cheung, Sau Mau Ping
Should companies provide paternity leave?
I was shocked to read the letter by Wendy   Chan opposing paternity leave (Talkback, January 24).
She seemed to be unhappy with  HSBC's new policy, which gives employees five days of paid paternity leave.
While the father obviously does not suffer the pains associated with childbirth,  if they are given paternity leave, they can help their wife recover.
Why should the  mother have to go through this on her own.
Sometimes a mother gets  post-natal depression and if the father  has  paternity leave, he  helps her deal with it.
Having five days of this paid leave is hardly a holiday. The father will have a lot to do during that time and he must adapt to his new role.
I strongly back the new policy adopted by  HSBC.
It shows that the company cares about its employees and this can only be good for morale.
Man Chan Tsun-yin, Heng Fa Chuen
At what age is it okay to leave children home alone?
Many Hong Kong people, including childcare organisations, have been discussing domestic violence and asking if it is okay to leave a child at home.
I do not think you can arrive at a specific age because each child is different.
Parents must be convinced that their child is mature enough to be left alone and that they know how to take care of themselves.
And they must be mature enough to know how to seek help if they need it.
I would say, in general, most children have reached that level of maturity at 13.
Parents who realise their children are not mature enough  should try to train them and help them develop.
They should set their children problem-solving tasks, so that they can  deal with problems when they arise.
Childcare organisations should hold courses for the children,  so that they can learn how to look after themselves and deal with any problems that arise when they are left at home alone.
Tiffany Ho Sin-yu, Lam Tin
On other matters ...
Recently on purchasing a new video camera it suddenly dawned on me that there is a trend among the major players in the electronics industry (anything that requires batteries or memory cards anyway) to produce and sell their products with, in most cases, the smallest capacity battery or batteries as well as minimal capacity memory cards.
This, as we all know, results in the almost immediate purchase of a battery and/or memory card of usually twice the capacity of that supplied.
Can I ask the captains of the electronic industry to have a think about the incredible waste of resources and the effect this has on the environment.
Please could those captains think about this and in future when a new product comes on the market, make sure it comes complete with a battery that is at least on par with the best the market can produce regarding stable capacity and a memory card that will at least suit the current market requirements.
It's a win-win situation.
The cost will simply be passed on to the consumer (who would have to pay anyway to upgrade the battery or the memory card)  and the environment gets a breather.
Ian May, Tung Chung
University of Hong Kong's worldwide undergraduate student exchange programme has been expanding fast.
From September, the beginning of the next academic year, students will be able to apply for an exchange programme  in four more countries - Chile, Ireland, India and Mexico - raising the total number to 27.
They can take part  in a variety of activities that provide international exposure, such as   internships or voluntary services with overseas governments.
In addition, students get the chance to go on  study trips and attend international conferences.
I think this exchange programme is fantastic. During lectures, Hong Kong students always have classmates who come from different countries.
These exchange students can answer questions about the culture of the country they come from.
As an exchange student in another country, you can learn so much more than reading a book on that country.
Students who have the opportunity to study abroad can broaden their horizons and learn things they cannot learn in class.
Tiffany Chiu, Tuen Mun



Jaguar just announced a rebrand – what does this mean for heritage brands and consumer identity?

Ratan Tata, former chairman of India’s Tata Group, dies at age 86

Car dealers propose easing warranty restrictions on maintenance, repair services after probe by Hong Kong’s competition watchdog

UK’s automotive industry, out of the world’s top 15, takes another hit as Jaguar Land Rover looks to Slovakia for electric vehicle batteries

Jaguar Cars

Talkback