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SCMP Reporter

Should the penalty for  drink-driving be increased?
Over the past few months, we have all been shocked by news reports of traffic accidents allegedly caused by drink-drivers.
This has  prompted calls for tougher penalties to be imposed  on drink-drivers.
I do not think the government can turn a blind eye to the severity of this problem. The maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment for those convicted of dangerous driving causing death should be increased.
Take Canada as an example. Third-time drink-driving  offenders face a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
Tougher sentences can act as a deterrent and prevent drivers from drinking before they get into their vehicles.
To protect the lives of our citizens, the government should have a maximum sentence of life in prison and make drink-driving causing death a manslaughter offence.
We could also follow the example of Australia. The suspension period for a drink-driver's licence will depend upon the blood-alcohol level. In Australia, with the most serious cases, the offender will never get his licence back.
More importantly, the government must try harder to educate the public, with particular attention paid to young people.
Some youngsters probably think it is quite exciting to drink and drive. They neglect the danger posed by those who drive under the influence.
The government should help them to realise the dangers that  exist and so correct their misconceptions through education.
Ultimately, learner drivers must be taught to act responsibly and to drive carefully.
If a driver is convicted of dangerous driving, he or she should have to re-sit the driving test and the test itself should be modified.
Overall, I do believe we can see an improvement in the current situation if tougher penalties are imposed. However, the best way to prevent drink-driving is for the drivers themselves to act responsibly.
Florence Wu, Sham Shui Po
What do you think of  restaurant food portions?
Restaurant portions  vary in different establishments.
Some  restaurants offer too much rice and some do not serve enough. And I have eaten at some restaurant chains and thought the serving was just right.
However, I agree with the campaign launched by Greeners Action ('Green campaign to persuade city diners that less is more', February 4).
People can get a 'HK$1 rebate if they ask for less rice with a meal at more than 160 restaurants citywide'.
Therefore, customers can get some money back and at the same time we may see a reduction in food waste in Hong Kong.
We should support a campaign that is trying to make people more friendly to the environment.
Mandy Man Sze-ting, Sheung Shui
I agree with the Greeners Action campaign offering diners a HK$1 discount if they accept a smaller portion of rice. I think it is a very good idea.
I certainly have found that the portions of food served to me in restaurants are too large. In future I will ask for less rice with my meal.
I was shocked by the survey ('Green campaign to persuade city diners that less is more', February 4) that revealed that food waste makes up 35 per cent of total municipal solid waste.
It made me think about those parts of the world where people do not have enough to eat.
When I think about that, and that we live in Hong Kong, I know we are blessed.
It may be a small step to ask for less rice with your meal, but it is a step worth taking.
I hope as many people as possible will take part in this campaign.
Chau Kong-chung, Tsuen Wan
On other matters...
Your article ('150 trees felled on sites zoned green belt', February 7), described the destruction of trees on green belt and government land in Sai Kung.
The report also described how applications have been made by indigenous villagers to build small houses on this land and these applications will soon be considered by the Town Planning Board.
Such advance destruction is a common trick in the New Territories.
The board then reviews the applications and concludes that there is no longer any natural environment that merits protection. More small houses then follow.
This sequence sets a precedent for how to destroy Hong Kong's natural environment with the authorities turning a blind eye.
The board should not set such precedents.
T. Lee, Clear Water Bay
Cyberport may  have been intended to be a centre of information technology, but it has certainly become a hub for dog excrement.
On a visit there on Saturday I saw the entire front lawn was studded with hundreds of dog droppings.
Even though there are signs asking dog owners to clean up after their four-legged friends, it is obvious that many do not bother.
Consequently that open space is effectively out of bounds for children who want to play outside without contracting a disease. It was deserted.
A dog warden levying on-the-spot fines would pay for his wages very quickly and Cyberport's garden and the empty shopping mall might become more desirable for visitors.
In the meantime, I recommend that people leave Cyberport residents to marinade in their own filth.
Simon Osborne, Central
Last week I went with my sister to a designer boutique in Sha Tin and we bought a lot of clothes.
My sister took a long time in selecting her clothes and asked the shop assistant a lot of questions about the use of their cash coupons.
This irritated the assistant and she sounded very annoyed and impatient when answering our questions.
I would have thought that assistants would be trained better in high-end boutiques to deal with customer inquiries. Also, sales staff should be grateful to customers like us who buy a lot of clothes in a recession. If it weren't for us they would not have a job.
I strongly suggest that the training staff of all retail companies should get down on to the shop floor to retrain their sales assistants to make sure they treat customers well.
This action is necessary for company survival, especially in the current economic climate.
Jasmine Law, Sha Tin



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