Is enough being done to police the smoking ban? Apparently, the enforcement of the ban is too lax as we can still see smokers lighting up in indoor areas. Some smokers have moved to upstairs bars where they can enjoy their cigarettes without worrying about being caught. Worse still, the owners of some bars actually provide ashtrays to their patrons. Although there are some owners who will try and persuade customers to put out their cigarettes, they are often ignored. A ban that cannot be enforced is equal to having no law at all. Those flouting the law will continue to light up and non-smokers will still be exposed to lethal second-hand smoke. I would like to see Tobacco Control Officers increase the frequency of their patrols in areas such as SoHo and Lan Kwai Fong. I also think raids should be carried out in those upstairs pubs where smokers ignore the law. I appreciate that pub owners face a dilemma, but they should play a more active role. For example, they should remove all ashtrays and urge customers who wish to smoke to go outside. Non-smokers also have an important role to play. They can report venues where smokers are defying the ban to the respective government department. I urge smokers to abide by the ban and show some consideration for non-smokers. Also, they must appreciate that they are breaking the law and if they are caught they will be fined. All they have to do to avoid that is go outside. Mike Lam, Kwun Tong What do you think of the drug-testing system? I support the drug-testing system for students, although I accept that there are drawbacks and there will be substantial administrative costs. I think the tests can act as a deterrent to young drug abusers, who are putting their lives at risk. There has been a lack of proper planning, but the government is on the right track in trying to save students with drug problems. It is just that the system will need some fine-tuning. I strongly disagree with the group convenor of the Youth Union, who said that teenagers will end up being victims of the scheme ('Activists meet to oppose drug test', August 10). It is understandable that some young people sometimes feel a sense of hopelessness. As a consequence, some of them start taking drugs. Obviously, at this stage we cannot say whether or not the scheme will work, but by adopting it the government is certainly heading in the right direction. Clement Wong, Sha Tin I do not have any objections to the drug-testing scheme, but there will be students on drugs who may not be asked to take the test and so the schools will not find out they have a problem. I think schools will have to provide more counselling to pupils with drug problems, and to that end they should hire more social workers to help these young people deal with their problems. I hope all parents will give consent to their children taking the tests, even if the children object. There may be some parents who have suspicions about their children but are afraid to face the truth. Most importantly, whatever the result of the test, parents should show their support for their children. Parents may be concerned that if a test proves positive it will lead to expulsion. Schools must promise that the drug-testing system will not affect pupils' studies. It is important that students who need help are given it, or there is no point having the tests. The government should build more rehabilitation centres. After young people have been treated at a centre, they can resume their studies. Some teachers may be concerned that positive test results will harm the school's reputation. But if the school is seen to be effectively tackling the problem, its reputation will not be tarnished. The new drug-testing system is not foolproof. Teachers must continue to look out for any behavioural changes they see in pupils which might suggest they are taking drugs. Parents should also be vigilant and not just rely on the school to discover that their child has a drug problem. Yoyo Chung Man-yau, Kwun Tong What do you think of the standard of local graduates? Every year, many fresh graduates join the hunt for jobs. Employers are always looking for high-calibre candidates and some firms have been heavily critical of local graduates, claiming that they are incapable. We cannot paint all graduates with the same brush, as standards will vary. However, employers have got into the habit of stereotyping. They have to appreciate that fresh graduates need time to adapt and learn. They probably do better in the workplace than many graduates from other places. At school they face one of the toughest exam regimes, the A-levels, and have to cope with the very competitive atmosphere in Hong Kong. Mathew Choi, Choi Hung On other matters... I refer to the CitySeen piece ('Just the place to sample street food - a five-star hotel', August 11) on the 'Wok this Way' street food buffet each Friday and Saturday at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Pacific Place. I have been a regular patron of the Marriott supper buffets for the last nine years since arriving in Hong Kong. I had, until now, thought that they were superb value for money and the staff were just what five-star hotel staff should be - very professional. The food on offer was always of the highest quality and choice, until now. I returned from my holidays to discover that the street food buffet had been introduced. This is a nonsensical idea. If I and my friends who are also Marriott regulars wanted 'street food' that is exactly where we would go to sample it, not the lobby lounge of one of Hong Kong's finest hotels. Not only is the food poor, in my opinion, but the serving staff are dressed in jeans and T-shirts. I understand that hotels must every now and then try something different, but this is a complete disaster of a marketing idea. A five-star hotel should always provide a five-star dining experience and this is definitely not one. I will be spending my disposable income in the future elsewhere. I am truly sorry that my favourite hotel has made this very unwelcome change to what was perfection in terms of food quality, service and ambience. Alistair Watson, Tsing Yi
