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SCMP Reporter

What do you think of widening Hiram's Highway?
  I do not support the proposal of widening Hiram's Highway. I believe that there will be several disadvantages.  
 First, Sai Kung is regarded by residents as 'the leisure garden of Hong Kong'. Because of its cultural characteristics, it attracts tourists and residents  for sightseeing and recreational activities. 
If there are improvements in the transport network, it will just attract more people to visit. It may destroy the natural habitat and its own ecological characteristics. In the long run, it may disturb and destroy Sai Kung's natural  views. Therefore, widening Hiram's Highway may bring negative effects to Sai Kung.
 Second, if there is an improvement in the accessibility to the district, it will lead to more development. There is no doubt that the land price will rise and residents will benefit. However, this would bring more pollution and disturb the peaceful lifestyle. 
Christine Chung Sau-yee, Sha Tin
What can be done to combat drug-taking in schools?
 Only harsh punishment can combat drug-taking in schools. I believe that a harsher punishment must be imposed on lawbreakers to  scare  other students who may  try taking drugs.
 Several recent cases  show that the existing punishment  seems to be too lenient.  We cannot get the result  we want if the punishment is too light. Why can't we set harsher laws? We are  too kind towards  teenagers. Our society is  willing to give them a second chance and find there are many excuses for not taking responsibility for their actions.  It doesn't work any more.  Students should know better and make the right choice.
Leung Lok-yi, Sham Tseng
 What do you think of the  'no plastic bags' campaign?
 I think the campaign will not be greatly supported. 
First, people will deem it inconvenient to carry their own bags when shopping. Women  in Hong Kong usually carry handbags whenever they go out and it is easy for them to carry a recycle bag with them.  However, men  do not. They usually only put their belongings  in their pockets and do not carry a bag. There is nowhere for them to put a bag to carry any shopping they have bought.  As a consequence, I believe that many people will ask for plastic bags.
Second, Hong Kong is facing an economic crisis. I believe companies would like to please their consumers to gain their support, and they may think that being environmentally friendly is not their only obligation. Therefore, most companies may give out plastic bags whenever they are asked for. That's one reason  the campaign may not be successful.
 Companies should give out plastic bags but if the consumers have brought their own bags, they should get  50 HK cents.   
Cherry Cheung, Sha Tin
  In reply to Billy Leung (Talkback, March 9), the retail industry expects the 'Every Day No Plastic Bag' initiative will save 400 million plastic shopping bags in a year. This is a realistic goal.
The Environmental Protection Department said that in 2006 alone 150 million bags were saved because of voluntary efforts, including 'No Plastic Bag Day' held once a week.
When every day is 'No Plastic Bag Day',  the reduced use of bags is expected to be even more significant.
'Every Day No Plastic Bag' is a commitment of 30 retailers, including some major chains, to encourage changes in consumer behaviour. 
Caroline Mak Sui-king, 
chairwoman, Hong Kong Retail Management Association
On other matters ...
  We refer to Ross Higgins' comments (Talkback, March 6) concerning the  arrangements for  work on Tseung Kwan O Road. 
The Highways Department is   retrofitting noise barriers and laying a low-noise road surface  to mitigate excessive  traffic noise for  nearby residents. The carriageways  are being reconstructed at the same time. Construction work began  in January last year  and is  to be completed by the end of this year. Upon completion, about 3,800 dwellings  will benefit. 
Tseung Kwan O Road is a major road carrying busy traffic  during peak hours on weekdays. It is a challenge to construct the roadworks while maintaining reasonable peak-hour traffic flow and the least construction noise nuisance to nearby residents. To achieve the best result, we have, in consultation with transport authorities and  district councils, developed and agreed a temporary traffic arrangement  scheme and construction programme.
   Under this scheme,  we carry out work  from  8.30am to 5.30pm  on weekdays and Saturdays, so as not to affect busy peak-hour traffic and confine construction-noise nuisance to acceptable hours in the daytime (that is why work is not seen before 8.30am and after 5.30pm).
 As for the work, we have to first build foundations for the noise barriers. Squeezing construction space to a minimum, we maintain two traffic lanes each for eastbound  (to Tseung Kwan O) and westbound (to Kowloon)  Tseung Kwan O Road. We observe that motorists of eastbound Tseung Kwan O Road need about five to six minutes more  during the evening peak period (6.30pm to 7.45pm. For the rest of the day, traffic flow  is normal and smooth.
At the end of January,  we began  reconstruction of the westbound  carriageway. As there are only two existing westbound carriageways, we have to divert one downhill lane to the opposite bound and introduce a 'contra-flow' arrangement when carrying out the work.  The progress of work is satisfactory and we expect to lift the 'contra-flow' arrangement after completion of the westbound carriageway reconstruction in early April. 
We are  on schedule and have completed the foundation work along the footpath facing Tsui Ping South Estate. By the end of July,  we will complete the remaining foundation work along the central divider on Tseung Kwan O Road near Hing Tin Estate, as well as the eastbound carriageway reconstruction. 
We will then reopen all lanes on Tseung Kwan O Road during the evening peak to provide further traffic relief. The noise barriers will have all been erected by the end of the year.
Should there be any further inquiries, please contact senior engineer C.Y. Wong on 2762 3583 at any time.
K. M. Bok, chief engineer,
Highways Department



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