How can people be encouraged to cut car use? The introduction of electric cars can help with our air pollution problems, but reducing the use of ordinary cars on our roads would appear to be a more sound solution. In Hong Kong, where we have a well-established and accessible public transport system, people who drive cars are motivated by materialism rather than necessity. I would suggest that the government raises the tax for the first registration of vehicles. Policymakers also have to look into ways to encourage more people to use public transport. To win over more commuters, it is necessary to introduce more competitive fares and to synchronise different kinds of public transport to make it more convenient for passengers. For instance, the MTR Corporation has created new lines that benefit passengers on both sides of the harbour. If the government is willing to make the necessary improvements, we will see the use of public transport growing in popularity at the expense of privately-owned vehicles. Ada Chan, Sha Tin There are many car drivers in Hong Kong and they contribute to the alarming deterioration of the city's air quality. Therefore, I supported the launch of the Car-Free Day on Tuesday. It is an important first step towards trying to improve the state of affairs. However, if we want to discourage greater use of cars in the SAR, we need to figure out why people drive cars. Many people drive a car because they see it as a status symbol. If we could change this attitude among Hongkongers, then hopefully fewer people would purchase cars. I would suggest that the government makes an advert with local celebrities, including pop stars, encouraging people to reduce their use of privately-owned cars and use more public transport in the city and regionally. I think people would be influenced by an advert like this. However, there is another reason for people opting to use private cars. They dislike having to wait in long queues for public transport services and do not like the overcrowding, especially on buses. To solve this problem, the government should collaborate with bus companies and transport-related departments. By increasing the frequency of particular bus routes at certain times, waiting times and queues can be cut and the overcrowding problem will ease. This will lead to more people opting to use public transport, which is an affordable way to get around. The government might have to subsidise bus companies, but it will be worth the expenditure. The most important thing is that once it has adopted policies, the government should stick to them. Just holding one or two isolated events will not discourage use of private vehicles. Tony Tang, Ngau Chi Wan Should the drug-rehab school get the Mui Wo premises? I refer to the letter by Betty Lin (Talkback, September 18) in support of the Christian Zheng Sheng College being allowed to move into the vacant New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School in Mui Wo. I am in complete agreement with your correspondent. The present location of Zheng Sheng college is extremely undesirable. There is not enough space for the students and more places need to be made available to meet the increasing number of young people who need the help that the college can provide. They will have much more space at the vacant school site and Mui Wo offers them a better environment, with better living conditions. I hope those Mui Wo residents who are opposed to the college using the school site will have a change of heart. The Zheng Sheng students really need to be given the chance to turn over a new leaf and they need our support. Calista Wong, Kwun Tong On other matters... A few days ago I noticed an A4-size advert at the internal bus stops in Discovery Bay, saying something about a Market Place by Jasons. I took a photograph with my mobile and asked my employee to translate it. To my amazement I discovered we have been invited to consult on the new supermarket in Discovery Bay, which is so important because we want to see fair competition. However, the advert was only in Cantonese. It therefore ignored more than 50 per cent of the Discovery Bay population who only speak English. I think it is outrageous that the organisers (it is unclear who they are) clearly do not want to consult with the majority of residents. Anna Adasiewicz, Discovery Bay
