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SCMP Reporter

Mega project to rob residents of open space
In his letter ('Mega Tower project controversy reflects badly on government', May 28) Alvin Yeung touched on only part of the perfidy displayed by the administration with regard to this project.
During a recent public meeting organised by local residents, a number of representatives from government departments were in attendance.
It was established, after extensive grilling on the part of the residents and evasive responses on the part of officials, that building permission for the Mega Tower project had effectively lapsed in 1996 as the developer had neglected to renew his 1994 application.
That he was allowed to resurrect a project that had already lapsed  by submitting some minor alterations to the original plans is a blatant abuse of town planning regulations.
It reinforces the view held by many Hong Kong people  that the role of the government and its civil servants is merely to expedite the programmes of property developers.
Not only is the Mega Tower proposal incompatible with the surrounding land uses; half of the project area is a wooded hillside that has been zoned as public open space.
With the rapid increase in the number of residents living in Wan Chai and the significant shortfall in the required 2 square metres of public open space per person, it is  unconscionable that the administration continues to not only acquiesce to - but to positively encourage - the developer's outdated 20th-century plans for this building.
As the Buildings Department cannot produce substantial evidence of continuity in the 1994 application, the Mega Tower project should be consigned to the dustbin.
The concerned government departments can better utilise their resources by providing residents with the full quota of attractive open space that they are entitled to by law.
Candy Tam, Wan Chai
Policies strike balance for all
The letter from Alvin Yeung ('Mega Tower project controversy reflects badly on government', May 28) compelled me to write in defence of our government.
It is easy to  blame the government for its policies and accuse officials of favouring the interests of large developers.
However, this is grossly unfair to our administration.
It has done a good job at striking a balance, taking into account the different interests of people be they businessmen, workers or students.
I sincerely hope the government will continue to move forward with firmness in the implementation of its well-planned  policies.
If the proposed road improvement work on Kennedy Road and Queen's Road East is considered practicable and good for the safety of all Wan Chai residents - be they from the area closest to Mid-Levels, or in the downtown area, or helping children going to school - then the government should come out and defend it through these columns.
It should not be scared off by  unfounded accusations or acts by some pressure groups or district councillors. And it should not give in to unnecessary pressure from political groups desperate to find an issue to help their upcoming Legislative Council election campaign.
Jessica Leung, Wan Chai
Wrong take on Chinese history
I refer to Jake van der Kamp's Monitor column ('Regina's elite can't claim accolades for China growth', May 27) in reply to the column by Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee ('Rights to govern', May 26).  I don't think Ip was arguing against democracy.
She was merely saying that a country like China with a long history of feudalism and a political philosophy of its own cannot just transplant western models of democracy overnight. Secondly, van der Kamp asked how did the present Chinese 'elite' leadership differ from past rulers of the country?
The fact is that the present leaders in Beijing pride themselves on their goal to build  'a new China' and to have 'socialism with Chinese characteristics'.
Van der Kamp attributed China's economic success to more 'peaceful international relations', over the past  30 years, among other factors. However, during this period and in the previous 30 years, China was involved in conflicts, for example, against Vietnam, while Deng Xiaoping was leader and in the Korean war.  I do not think our leaders in Beijing would interpret their nation's history in the way van der Kamp does.
They would say a great part of their success was due to their ability to liberate the country from imperial domination and to safeguard China's sovereignty.
Simon Chan, Mid-Levels
Quake no time to grandstand
I refer to Lau Nai-keung's article ('China is reclaiming its share of the world', May 23).
It is a shame that a person in such a position as Lau - a member of the Basic Law Committee of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and Commission on Strategic Development - used the earthquake relief efforts to grandstand China as an upcoming power. Lau should  have  focused on  why the events have unfolded to start with.
He would have seen that rather than showing China in a positive light, these events have highlighted the level of government failure in regard to corruption, incompetence and basic disregard of safety standards.
In the near future we will see heads roll over these issues.
China is indeed doing well in its response to the earthquake tragedy and people around the world praised the central government.  But please, drop the grandstanding - it is  neither the time nor the  place.
Furthermore, if China truly wants to be able to look other nations in the eye and say with conviction, 'You and I are equals,' then surely it will need to review its relationship with countries like Sudan, North Korea and Myanmar.
Stephen Anderson, Macau
Language skills good investment
I am always a fan of government policies regarding the use of English or Putonghua as the medium of instruction in secondary schools.
While people may not see eye to eye on the strengths of students and a handful of teachers in applying the language in class, I believe ample practice is needed on campus because little use is seen off campus.
We adults should set a good example for the students who will run the society we grow old in.
While we are discussing the language policies, in particular the use of Putonghua for teaching Chinese subjects and English for more English-capable students, I wonder  how often meetings are held by officials in government offices, where  Putonghua and/or English are used without the benefit of interpreters.
Anson Yang, vice-principal, SKH Li Fook Hing Secondary School
Still a matter of who you know
The government appointments of second-tier officials only serves to underline the process of how things go on in this city.
Show me one appointee who is not rewarded via either 'jobs for the boys' or close family connections to the wealthy elite. It makes nonsense of the meritocracy vaunted by the government.
Tim Woodward, Kwai Chung



Letters