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SCMP Reporter

What do you think of the police roadblock action?
We should not blame the police for stopping those people illegally racing cars, although the way they did it was quite reckless ('Human roadblock 'put public at risk'', July 14).
If the police had not set up the roadblock they would not have been able to stop the racing as quickly as they did and we could have seen a more serious traffic accident. However, in this case, there were few injuries. I think it was a price worth paying to prevent a more serious traffic accident. 
I am not saying mistakes were not made, and police can learn from this when similar incidents occur in the future. 
If police use cars to form a roadblock, they should ensure that civilian drivers are out of the vehicles before they are rammed. 
In this way, illegal road racers could be stopped without there being any threat to Hong Kong residents. 
Any  drivers whose vehicles were damaged should receive compensation to cover the cost of repairs. 
I applaud the drivers for complying with police instructions. If they had not done so, a far more serious accident could have occurred.
Mike Lam, Kwun Tong
It is really hard to believe that civilians and their cars were used by the police, as per usual procedure, to stop illegal road racers just after a bend on the Kwun Tong Bypass. 
Why didn't they use portable road spike mats that can be deployed in minutes like in many other jurisdictions?
I have lost count of the number of times I have seen this type of lunatic driving at dangerously high speeds. 
Like the lethal red minibuses and the rampant lack of  use of child restraints in private vehicles, it seems, for whatever reasons, the police force is unable or unwilling to control the situation. Our loved ones deserve better.
Patrick Gilbert, Lam Tin
What do you think of the extra race days?
I have reservations about Chung Man-yau's strong support for the extra meetings (Talkback, July 11). He says: 'Groups that help needy people will benefit from extra revenue from the extra race days.'
But if we really want to help such people, we can give money directly to a charity. I do not think there can be any doubt that people who lack self-control when it comes to gambling will be adversely affected by the additional days. 
Because of the extra race days, parents who are addicted to gambling will spend less time taking care of their children during the summer holidays. This will hurt the quality of family life. Is that what we really want?
Charlie Chan Wing-tai, Sha Tin
Should schools test students for drugs?
Schools are, in effect, agents  that look after our children, as they are deemed to be experts in the field of education, an expertise that few parents possess. 
However, any activities they carry out must have the approval of parents. 
Therefore, schools cannot test any student for drugs if the parents do not specifically request that the test be carried out.
Drug testing cannot become school policy because a majority of parents approve it or because it is backed by the parent-teachers' association. It is a decision that must be made by  parents and their children. 
Nigel Lam, Kowloon Tong
Has the full no-smoking ban affected your choice of venue? 
The fact that the smoking ban has now been extended to bars and clubs will not affect my choice of venue.
The only possible change might relate to those bars where the law is not complied with.
Some people might stay away from bars where the staff turn a blind eye to customers who continue to smoke.
It has been argued that some people might stay at home rather than go to a club where they cannot smoke. But sometimes they will have no choice but to go out. I think the full no-smoking ban will prove to be successful. It is just that people need time to adapt to it. 
Karen Cheung Ka-ying, Kwun Tong
What do you think of the pseudo models' books at the book fair?
Regarding the protest against 'models' at the book fair, do we really need  someone whose sole proven skill is accessing a website define what a book may or may not be, as well as attempt to define the boundaries of acceptable morality for the general public?
K. L. Chan said: 'These are not books. The models are likely to set bad examples to children, telling them that they can earn a lot even if they don't read enough. This is so ironic.' ('30,000 call for 'models' to be banned from book fair', July 13). K. L. Chan perpetuates a misogynistic stereotype,  saying, in effect, that attractive women can be neither intelligent nor well read. It is so ironic. 
Steve Schechter, Sai Kung
Should employers be able to collect staff fingerprints for general purposes?
I believe employers have no right to collect fingerprints of employees.
Hi-tech electronic devices are becoming increasingly popular with advances in technology and this now appears to include fingerprinting technology. Some companies are taking advantage of these developments, because it is easier for them to monitor staff attendance. 
As you reported, a company 'adopted the fingerprint recognition system in 2005 to eliminate 'buddy punching' - where staff punch time cards for one another' ('Scanning workers' prints is 'excessive'', July 14). 
However, the reasons companies might give for wanting to collect fingerprints from staff do not justify their actions. Fingerprints are important personal data and there are risks involved with collecting such data.
I think that to demand fingerprinting of workers could create problems with the employer-employee relationship. It could be seen as a stricter management policy and might lead to workers not having confidence in their employers.  
It might be seen as a short-term solution to increase efficiency, but this will not improve unless employees are offered genuine incentives.  
If there is a problem with employees, company owners should hold staff gatherings to try to improve relationships  and encourage greater loyalty. 
Au Po-yan, Lai Chi Kok



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