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SCMP Reporter

Should a soccer pitch  be built in Discovery Bay?
HKR International should build a sports pitch in Discovery Bay.
For a community of 16,000, there is currently a small five-a-side pitch attached to one of the schools, and a poorly maintained grass area at the helipad which floods easily and is dangerously rocky and uneven.
The only other sports facilities are tennis courts attached to HKRI-owned private clubs.
Other outside areas have been designed to look good, but are totally unsuitable for team sports, or even for kids to run around in.
HKRI advertises Discovery Bay as a green and outdoor community, using images of our children playing football and rugby. However, they are unwilling to set aside land and build any proper facilities.
The English Schools Foundation has built a  new school on a small site and was told HKRI would provide a pitch. This has not happened and the school is now struggling for space, having only a basketball court for 1,400 pupils.
The community has been in discussions with HKRI for several years and everyone thought a solution had been found. HKRI has reneged at the 11th hour, citing a lack of commercial viability.
This is disingenuous as the solution suggested is to turn underused tennis courts into a pitch, for which HKRI would then be able to charge.
HKRI has written Discovery Bay's constitution in such a way that it is unable to be removed as estate manager. However, it fails to recognise that this gives it the responsibility to use some of our management fees to provide the same facilities as  councils elsewhere.
It has been quoted as saying it recently gave more than HK$600,000 to resurface the existing five-a-side pitch. While this is true, HKRI allowed the pitch to deteriorate for many years so that prior to it being resurfaced, it was little more than bare concrete. In addition, HKRI only paid half the renovation cost, with Discovery Bay International School paying the remainder.
Unfortunately, HKRI has a poor relationship with Discovery Bay residents. This is largely due to its failure to communicate openly and to understand the needs of the community.
Martin Wardle, Discovery Bay
Should private estates  allow the keeping of pets?
Being a property owner on an estate in Tung Chung where dogs are permitted, I have to say it is simply unworkable.
There are constant problems with dog owners not cleaning up after their pets, and selfish owners allowing their dogs to run around off their leads - barking and disturbing everyone else - and behaving like they have every right to ignore the rules and feelings of their neighbours.
Despite many, many complaints from owners and residents, the management company has failed in its duty to keep our estate clean, hygienic and safe for residents. This has led to endless problems and great disharmony within the complex.
No thought has been given to how many dogs an owner can have or how many dogs should be allowed per tower.
Some residents have three dogs. What would happen if all residents wanted to own three dogs? The estate would not be fit for human habitation.
B. Tindley, Tung Chung
How can sex education  be improved?
Most people would agree that there is room for improvement regarding sex education in Hong Kong.  It has been neglected in schools and this has led to young people harbouring misconceptions on the subject. We have seen an increase in the number of young people having premarital sex and more abortions and unwanted pregnancies.
I think sex education should be a compulsory subject in secondary schools. It is essential that this is done so young people do not acquire wrong attitudes about sex.
Our exam-oriented education system means many pupils only think about getting good academic results.
Some people in Hong Kong take a very conservative approach and regard sex education as a taboo subject. However, as I have said, unless they are given accurate information about sex, young people will wind up with a distorted view.
We have to get the right message across to adolescents. Only in this way can we overcome traditional Chinese attitudes on the subject, which are so conservative.
Our educators can no longer turn a blind eye to this issue.
Lam Ching-yin, Ngau Chi Wan
Sex has been considered a taboo subject in Chinese society; something that happens but is not talked about.
Parents, and many teachers, have such entrenched and conservative views that they feel embarrassed when faced with direct questions about sex raised by young people. When asked such questions, they are evasive with their answers.
Only when these adults are willing to talk frankly about sex in front of youngsters will the younger generation really learn something about sex and how it relates to real life.
I think it is the adults who need to be re-educated on sexual matters before they can present themselves as authorities on the subject.
Lee Mee-mee,  Kwun Tong
Should more land be provided  for international schools?
Many people feel education standards have declined in Hong Kong and therefore take the view that international schools are better than other primary or secondary schools here.
Of course, local students attending an international school have a better opportunity to practise their English as they get to speak and listen to native speakers. But what about children from low-income families. Does the government consider their education needs?  I am not convinced that teaching standards are necessarily higher at international schools. Some teachers may be native speakers, but their knowledge of grammar is not always that good. I think the government should have thought more carefully before allocating this land to international schools.
I would like to see more land in Hong Kong being allocated to creating sites for eco-tours, instead of building more skyscrapers and international schools.
Having more of these areas will be good for the environment.
Catherine Sam, Ho Man Tin



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