What do you think of the plan for Repulse Bay? The government's plan to rezone Repulse Bay and sell the Seaview Building to a developer has come under severe criticism. One of the main reasons it has come under fire is because it could involve the closing of that part of the beach that would become private property. Why would government officials think that this was a viable plan? I believe the whole rezoning proposal makes no sense. The beach at Repulse Bay is well known in Hong Kong for being so accessible to the public. No one should have the authority to destroy this right the public has always enjoyed or to adopt such a policy for a place that is part of Hong Kong's heritage. Given the fact that we have seen a policy of lowering development density adopted by the Development Bureau, I am very confident that this proposal will be rejected in the near future. I think our development secretary will say that officials have gauged public opinion and they are willing to sacrifice the profits the government would make, for the sake of the wishes of Hong Kong people and because of the environment. H. C. Bee, Kowloon Tong What do you think of the Discovery Bay ferry plan? Although I do not live in Discovery Bay, I strongly support the new ferry plan. First of all, I think the company operating the ferries will struggle if it is not able to raise its fares. People who moved to Discovery Bay must have been aware of the transport problems before they decided to live there, so why are they complaining now? If they want to enjoy more convenient transport services, they can always move to some other location like, for example, the Yat Tung or Fu Tung estates [in Tung Chung]. Some Discovery Bay residents claim they are not that rich. But there are many Hongkongers who would disagree and say that some of the people living there are rich and arrogant. People enjoy living in Discovery Bay because they love the environment, with its open spaces, so they should not complain about the transport arrangements. After all, a needle will never be sharp at both ends. Johnny Lee Chi-ho, Cheung Sha Wan In my opinion, the revised ferry fares and schedule proposed by Discovery Bay Transportation Services are unacceptable. Increasing ferry fares will exacerbate the problems of residents who are already facing hardship. Under the global financial crisis, many people are reduced to a state of poverty. They cannot afford large increases in expenditure. For this reason, the company should not raise ferry fares. Discovery Bay Transportation Services also wants to cut back on the late-night service, which will make it very inconvenient for residents wanting to get to or from Central. For this reason and because of the cut in services after midnight, fewer people will use the ferries and so I feel its deficits might get even worse. I urge the company to reconsider its ferry proposals and consider the burden that is being imposed on Discovery Bay residents. Katherine Lee Wing-yan, Tsuen Wan Discovery Bay Transportation Services wants to increase ferry fares. I think this would be an absolute nightmare for commuters, especially for low-income families. Not all commuters will be able to pay the percentage increase. Many people have lost huge amounts on the stock market. Hongkongers face financial difficulties. The fare rise is like trying to get blood from a stone. Citizens have to deal with rising food prices caused by high inflation. Now those living in Discovery Bay will have to deal with high transport costs. I am concerned that some people in Hong Kong who are under financial pressure and feeling vulnerable will consider suicide. I think cutting services after midnight is an acceptable measure. Although it is a bit inconvenient, a night bus service will be provided. Terence Chung, Sheung Shui What do you think of the revisions to the heritage grading system? I strongly approve of the revisions to the heritage grading system ('More protection for grade-one buildings', November 27). Hong Kong has a rich history and there have been many important events over the years. Many of the historic buildings that remain deserve to be protected. For members of our older generations, some of these buildings bring back memories from an earlier period in their lives and they enjoy reminiscing. It is important to these people that these buildings are preserved. Giving monument status to a grade-one historic building can save it from being destroyed. I hope the government will ensure these grade-one buildings are saved so we can all continue to enjoy them. Katy Lam, Yuen Long The controversy over the Star Ferry pier in Central showed the need to make changes. I hope the government has learned its lesson from incidents like this and that it will pay more attention to the need to protect our heritage. In Hong Kong we still have historic buildings which are architecturally important. Members of older generations who remember these buildings can share their memories with younger people and this can help students learn more about the history of Hong Kong. The new revisions of heritage grading will mean that grade-one historic buildings will be given monument status. Under the new framework, these historic sites stand a better chance of being preserved for future generations. Sherry Yeung, Tin Shui Wai I welcome the decision of the government to revise the heritage grading system. It appears that officials have learned their lesson following the incident at Queen's Pier. The new system will attach greater importance to grade-one historic buildings. Also in the past there was confusion about different departments' responsibilities. What we must ensure is a fair grading system under the Antiquities and Monuments Office. Our heritage must be preserved for future generations. It is important that the government treats this matter more seriously than it has done in the past. Tang Tsz-yu, Yuen Long
