What percentage rise should maids get? Some unions, which support a statutory minimum wage, march with foreign domestic helpers to protest against the government. Maids often complain that they are being underpaid for the services they provide and they want higher wages. I do not think there is any need for their salaries to be raised. They are in a low-income group, but does that mean their conditions are that bad? Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city, with people coming from all over the world. It is a busy and crowded place which offers a variety of job opportunities, usually in the commercial or information technology industries. People who come here with a particular expertise can enjoy high salaries. It is different for foreign domestic helpers. They do not have superior skills or specific knowledge that would enable them to command such salaries. It does not take years of training to become a maid. It is also a very competitive sector. Those maids who do not want to keep doing their jobs because they think the pay is too low will find other people willing to replace them. I think wages should be determined by the free market mechanism. In Hong Kong maids enjoy good conditions and I cannot see any reason to give them a pay rise. Kelvin Ngan Wing-kong, Sha Tin I hope that we get a 10 per cent increase in our salary to help us cope with inflation. At least it represents the piece of cake that was taken away from us during the Sars crisis. Corazon P. Carsola, Mid-Levels Should building codes be relaxed for heritage sites? A consultant study commissioned by the Development Bureau has recommended that different building codes should be established for historic buildings and buildings that have significant heritage and cultural value ('Flexibility urged over historic buildings', May 26). The report also suggests that in the long run, historic districts such as Mong Kok, Wan Chai and Sham Shui Po could be set up and developed in the manner that upholds their special and significant character. I welcome this recommendation and would like to urge the government to look into how it can be implemented. Heritage preservation in Hong Kong lags behind many other cities such as Shanghai, Singapore and Beijing. A great city does not exist alone, without its past. This is an area where we can improve, and improve a lot, because so far we have not done enough. The current building codes are designed for one primary objective, to ensure safety. The codes are designed and reviewed to keep up to date, so they would not be suitable for many old buildings. It is not possible to expect all old buildings to have to be continuously revamped to comply with the new and updated codes. The codes can best be seen as a guideline, and other ways could be found to satisfy the ultimate objective of maintaining safety. Under such a principle, it is completely logical to design a separate code for the purpose of preserving historic buildings. One might have to take into account a new function for the buildings. I hope various concern groups will get together to discuss these issues and that there will be follow-up action from the government. Having a separate code can help with the city's development, particularly in terms of heritage conservation. H. C. Bee, Kowloon Tong What do you think of supermarket prices? The supermarket chains are to blame for rising prices. They should be acting responsibly when pricing products and not introduce increases that are unreasonable. Instead, I feel they are acting irresponsibly. Sometimes they will lower prices to compete with the small independent groceries, in order to squeeze them out of the market and to establish a monopoly. Then when they have succeeded in their aim and removed the competition, they increase prices again and their profits go up. Daily necessities are sold in these supermarkets, so when prices are high, this will increase the financial burden felt by grass-roots families, and I think this is unfair. The Consumer Council has been monitoring prices in Hong Kong and has found that most of the products sold in supermarkets are priced higher than in pharmacies and small groceries. It is time for the supermarkets to change their policies and to sell products at a reasonable price. Yvette Yau, Tseung Kwan O Supermarkets are always popular with shoppers because they are so convenient, and have such a wide variety of foodstuffs. Some of them even sell furniture. It is good that customers can buy everything they need under one roof. They do not have to walk to different shops in search of goods. However, I believe consumers would find that if they shopped around different stores and in the markets, it would cost them less. Supermarkets often claim they are offering the cheapest prices in Hong Kong. However, it is clear we are paying more so that we can shop in a comfortable, air-conditioned environment. If people do not want to pay these higher prices, then I would advise them to shop around and look for the best bargains. Water Hui Wing-yan, Tsuen Wan On other matters... I just want to say congratulations to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on its continuing effort to turn people away from Repulse Bay Beach. First, about two or three years ago, it closed the popular restaurants in the now largely abandoned building at the north end of the beach. There still seems to be no effort to use the building. Then it had a wonderful idea of putting a line of large rubbish bins along the tree line to the rear of the beach. These are in addition to the half sunken ones, which are acceptable. On Thursday I saw that it has topped it all with attractive black oil barrels positioned next to every other bin, also for the collection of rubbish. Maybe its next idea will be to concrete over the whole beach for ease of administration. John Peng, Tsim Sha Tsui Air pollution has long been a problem in developed cities. We know the problem exists but we choose to turn a blind eye to it. Is it that we are incapable of making a change, or are we indifferent to our common property? We, as citizens, always claim that government should do something, but have we ever thought of our own social duty? I am concerned about the attitudes of all Hong Kong people. We simply don't try to get involved in cleaning up our cities, and ask others to do our part. So often we see luxurious shops turn on their lights at midnight without anyone inside. So often we see our friends suffer from respiratory diseases. Why can't we do something to alleviate the problem? I sincerely hope that all of us can be more environmentally friendly to our lovely city. Take more public transport instead of driving private cars or taking taxis. Turn on fans instead of air con when it is not that hot. There are lots of things we can do. Maureen Cheung, Lam Tin
