What can be done to prevent data leaks? I think more can be done to try to prevent data leaks from happening. Personal data includes many specific personal details - a lot more is stored than just a person's identity card number. Yet although there are effective ways of protecting data, leaks have been reported from the government and from banks in Hong Kong. I find this to be totally unacceptable. If these institutions, in which it is assumed data is closely guarded, have leaks, how can we have any trust in them? First, institutions should undertake a thorough check over their data storage system to locate areas vulnerable to illegal intrusion. They should employ an IT professional to do this check-up and undertake any necessary system upgrades. I am sure it and any new preventive measures would be supported by all Hong Kong people, even if it led to higher costs for our citizens. These institutions should set up a system for the frequent regulation of data storage. I would suggest that a department should be established, or an outside professional body for data security could be hired, and be responsible for regulating the system. They would look at potential leakages and come up with contingency plans. Regular meetings would be held to discuss the impact of IT advances, how that would affect the institution's database and what the relevant responses should be, such as a renewal or upgraded security. Guidelines on data handling would be detailed and explained clearly to every employee. This would mean there would be no excuses for any member of staff who wrongly handled private data. Employees would not be allowed to take home personal data for any reason. There must be stricter penalties in place for those members of staff who have allowed a leak of data and action should be taken swiftly and irrespective of who that person is. I hope my suggestions will be considered. We should adopt any rational measures to combat the problem as this is in the public interest. The problem of leakage of people's personal data is not something that society can neglect. Suthida Chan, Tsing Yi Should marketing vans be banned from parking on streets? A number of government departments including the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have said they have no jurisdiction to take action against telecom companies' vans that have parked on busy streets to market their services ('Outrage at telecom 'roving shops',' June 9). The actions of these companies has caused traffic congestion and it makes passers-by angry. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has said that it is only empowered to take any necessary action against hawkers who sell commodities but not services. It said 'marketing was outside its purview'. The Inland Revenue Department was not sure whether the vans needed a business registration. If we use simple common sense, illegal hawkers are being pursued because they do not have the relevant licence. They do not have a permanent location to trade and it could be that because of where they are located, they are blocking pedestrians or causing problems for traffic. What, therefore, is the difference between normal hawkers and these vans, which are 'itinerant hawkers'? The answer is that there is no difference. They may be selling services instead of commodities, but as I see it, it is the same violation of regulations. I think that if the relevant government departments think they do not have the jurisdiction to act, they should apply for legal clarification, in other words, do the jobs they are paid to do as public servants. We Hongkongers do not pay our government to disclaim any liability. Can we have a proactive government please? Hong Kong will never catch up with Singapore if officials continue to wash their hands of a particular problem. H. C. Bee, Kowloon Tong What is the best age for retiring? All this depends on an individual's health, abilities and the contributions he or she makes in his workplace, as well as individual family circumstances. I do not think it is necessary for the government and private sectors to set age limits for retirement. Given the good health and longevity of the local population, it would not be illogical to allow employees to work up to the age of 80, if they were healthy enough. In this regard, most traditional Chinese firms have adopted a flexible and pragmatic policy without setting age limits for retirement. It is obviously in society's interests for the government and other large organisations to follow suit. Therefore, no age limit should be set. Peter Wei, Kwun Tong On other matters... Who designs the direction signs in shopping malls? Very often those who do appear to be more concerned with their rather dubious artistic talents than steering customers in the right direction. To illustrate my point, I challenge anyone who, without prior knowledge, visits East Point City, Hang Hau, goes up the escalator from near Chow Sang Sang, the jewellers on the first floor, to Watsons on the second floor, to find the toilets using the directions on the sign at the top of the escalator. Please be warned: if you are desperate, use the toilets on the first floor before accepting this challenge. This is one of many misleading signs worldwide. Would any 'professionals' in that business care to comment? Peter Robertson, Sai Kung I refer to the City Digest piece ('Buildings we don't want to see', June 10). Well, of course, it is all in how you ask the question. How about a poll, 'What HK skyline buildings do you most love to see at night?' The legendary HSBC, majestic Two IFC, moody Legco, solid Cheung Kong and even the Bank of China zigzag all make my list. And I can't wait until ICC sits across the harbour from its Two IFC mate, like a colossus straddling the entrance to the harbour. The view - coming back to night-time Central on a junk or a ferry to view our brilliantly lit-up skyline - is a unique Hong Kong joy that I share with my daughters whenever I can. Andrew Work, Mid-Levels
