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SCMP Reporter

How can wall trees be better protected?
I refer to the report ('Alarm at chopping of wall trees' roots',  June 4).
The  banyan trees along Caine Road and the old rockery wall were destroyed about a decade ago. The roots were trimmed and the walls were concretised.
I wonder if the same people are responsible for the current problems, highlighted in the report, at  Hornsey and Conduit roads.  Are the roots being chopped to allow  buses to pass?  We need trees and water to survive on the Earth.
The government should place an injunction immediately to stop any further damage,  to give time for a law to be passed  which will protect old trees and rockery walls  in Hong Kong.
John Yuan, Beijing
What do you think of supermarket prices?
There are many reasons to explain rising supermarket prices.
Many Hong Kong citizens blame inflation. However, I think it is due to  the stronger  yuan against the Hong Kong dollar and greed on the part of the supermarkets.
Inflation does lead to higher prices, but this is a  common phenomenon that occurs in every positive economic climate.
When things are going well in an economy, people's income will increase and over time the value of money declines. This can lead to price rises. The goods and services can be the same as before but the price can go up substantially.
Statistics show inflation has gone up in Hong Kong since the end of the Sars outbreak.
However, at the time we did not notice, as price rises were negligible.  In contrast, inflation is much higher now and any increase in wages is lower than the rise in prices.
As we import so many products from the mainland, the appreciation of the yuan means we need to pay more in  dollars and so retail prices go up.
Also,  some dishonest producers or middlemen, especially those selling essentials,  have been stockpiling to keep  prices rising and this is affecting prices on our supermarket shelves.
But even when there is not a shortage in  supply,  supermarkets still increase the price. This can be proved by the Consumer Council or shoppers comparing prices  with  goods in smaller  stores all over Hong Kong.
Their prices are often much lower  than those in supermarkets.
It is nearly impossible for the government, the supermarkets  or the organisations which administer the mainland currency to control its appreciation and curb the stockpiling of goods.
Besides, I do not think the Hong Kong  government should  try to control  inflation  by  limiting supermarket charges. Such an action would be a violation of our free-market mechanism. Even if it did implement such a policy, it would be  difficult for officials to set limits as the cost of goods changes every day and it would be  hard to calculate supermarket overheads.
If it did intervene it could prove costly and a waste  taxpayers' money.
What I would like to see, however, is the supermarkets showing more social responsibility when it comes to prices.
Suthida Chan, Tsing Yi
What can be done to prevent data leaks?
The recent loss of data,  in particular relating to HSBC customers and Hospital Authority patients, has caused a great deal of public concern.
Obviously, people are worried about what measures companies and institutions are taking to protect data and prevent it from being leaked. The leaking   of someone's identity card number, address and phone number is  serious.
Since such data is valuable to certain criminals, I think we will see an increase in cyber crimes.
I think the problem  was that some  staff were taking work home. Therefore, one simple way of affording   better protection is to implement a rule saying that no one  can take work home.
With the data staying stored in the workplace and not being taken home, it is more secure and is less likely to be leaked.
The government should also help companies and its own departments to set up the necessary contingency plans.
If these measures are implemented then I think this will rectify the situation and we will not be so worried about a firm or a government department leaking material which contains our personal information.
Kelvin Ngan Wing-kong, Sha Tin
What do you think of the height restrictions in Tsim Sha Tsui?
I strongly agree with the height restrictions in Tsim Sha Tsui. I feel that with such restrictions, the harbour view will not be blocked.
As a Hong Kong citizen, I feel proud of the breathtaking views of Victoria Harbour that we can all still enjoy.
This view is a public asset, which is the property of all the people of Hong Kong.
It would be sad if that asset was destroyed by high buildings, so we could no longer see the harbour.
I  hope that the height restrictions are effective at protecting the harbour view.
Yvette Yau, Tseung Kwan O
On other matters ...
I would like to know the following from Watson's Wine Cellar.
On February 25,  we bought Alamos Malbec  for HK$115 with free home delivery. On May 18,  we bought Alamos Malbec  for HK$100.30, again with free home delivery.
Can somebody at Watson's explain to me where the reduction of tax  in the last budget from 40  to  0 per cent went to?
I am sure this wine has been bought in US dollars, so I am wondering what happened to the 40 per cent decrease.
By the way, it is a nice wine.
Jan Arkesteijn, Tuen Mun



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