bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

The only real timetable for HK is 2047
Frank Ching has accused democrats of inconsistency  ('Let's get through 2012 without a repeat of 2005', October 19).
First they asked for a timetable and Beijing provided it; now they want more.
Democrats were doubtless hoping to get through the 2012 debate without a repeat of the friendly fire they had to take from fellow universal suffrage supporters over 2005.
Timetables mean little if the public doesn't know where Hong Kong is going and how it can get there. Beijing's 2007 decision said only that safely-selected chief executive candidates could be elected by universal suffrage in 2017. No date was mentioned for Legco. The decision said only that it could be similarly elected after 2017.
The real question, therefore is, what  Beijing means by universal suffrage. 
After all, the Chinese constitution grants all citizens universal suffrage and it is practised at the  grass-roots level in small constituencies similar to those in Hong Kong's district council elections.
Thereafter, all elections to higher assemblies are indirectly elected by party-controlled candidates.
Probably not by coincidence, the Hong Kong government's 2007 green paper on constitutional development noted that universal suffrage 'can take the form of direct or indirect election'.
The green paper also presented an option for district councils to indirectly elect Legco members. And now we learn that the 2005 proposal to establish just such a precedent is likely to be recycled in the government's coming reform package.
Those who advise democrats to approve this precedent should first promote debate on the long-term implications for a system that is now already dominated at its grass-roots, district-council base by the more than 12,000 members of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and its conservative allies.
The real timetable is 2047 and Beijing is planning for that date. Hong Kong democrats should do likewise.
Suzanne Pepper, Chai Wan
Doctors can't give their best
Many people have expressed concern about the long working hours of doctors in Hong Kong's public hospitals.  On October 20, in the Court of Final Appeal, they failed in their bid to get compensation for their overtime.  I think that the long hours doctors are forced to work must adversely affect Hong Kong's medical services.  
A medic who is deprived of sleep is at greater risk of finding it more difficult to concentrate and not giving a satisfactory performance. 
Their judgment could be compromised.  
If a doctor is exhausted when treating a patient, is there a greater chance of a mistake being made? 
The long hours these doctors work could compromise the quality of treatment provided to public hospital patients.  
Also, if doctors in public hospitals are forced to work long shifts, then many will become demoralised.
This has already happened and has led to a serious brain drain from the public to the private sector. 
This must undermine the efficiency of our public medical services.  
The government should recognise that the system is flawed and rectify the problem.  
It should come up with a better on-site, on-call duties system, by either reducing public doctors' working hours or giving them compensation.  
Doctors are not machines. They have to be given sufficient time to rest.  
So Ying-kin, Wong Tai Sin
Consumers won't switch
Some political parties have called on the Environment Bureau to modify its light-bulb cash-coupon scheme. 
Under the scheme, announced by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen in his policy address,  the two power companies will distribute HK$100 cash coupons for compact fluorescent bulbs to residential electricity account holders in December. 
These light bulbs consume 70 per cent less electricity than incandescent bulbs.
However, they provide the same light intensity so they are definitely more environmentally friendly. 
Nevertheless, I do not think this voucher scheme will necessarily get more consumers using energy-saving light bulbs.
The cost of these compact bulbs is much higher than the traditional incandescent lights. Many people will decide not to make the switch unless they can see that their electricity bills will shrink.  
Besides, a HK$100 cash coupon will not help that much or have a long-term benefit. After people have spent it they will go back to purchasing the  incandescent light bulbs. 
The government needs to come up with a long-term strategy and  progressively restrict the sales of incandescent light bulbs.
Also, it must try harder to get across the message to consumers in Hong Kong about the importance of protecting the environment.
Shirley Chu Wai-shan, Sha Tin
Conflicts can arise anywhere
It is absurd for Lau Nai-keung to say conflicts of interest only arise when a business has a monopoly of power over an industry ('Hardly a light-bulb moment for 'dissidents' ', October 20).
Conflicts of interest can arise regardless of the amount, the method or the intention.
It is even more incredible that he now labels everyone whom he disagrees with as 'dissidents', a practice once popular in the Cultural Revolution.
If indeed Mr Lau still lives in the obsolete world of the last century, then he should be reminded that most Hong Kong people would find his views more worthy of  dissident status.
Immanuel Kant, Ho Man Tin
Cabbies could tone it down
Some of your correspondents have complained about the noise from people shouting on their mobiles on buses or in MTR carriages. 
I would like to highlight a noise problem that occurs in Hong Kong's taxis.  Passengers are regularly disturbed by the taxi fleet control radio being turned up permanently to maximum volume, even when the broadcast is not intended for that particular driver. On top of that noise  some taxi drivers have the local radio channel on full blast and don't like being asked to turn it down.
Third, but worst, is when they have animated conversations on their mobiles. Despite the rule banning this, these long-lasting chats are often conducted on hand-held mobiles, as they are driving. The use of foul language as they chat shows their complete disregard for their passengers.  
Perhaps the most irritating thing about many Hong Kong taxi journeys is  the lack of response from taxi drivers. When the requested destination is stated, including in Cantonese, the reaction is total silence, rather than any acknowledgment that they know it, or have even heard you.
On the positive side, Hong Kong's taxis are plentiful and cheap. But the grumpy, selfish and rude behaviour of too many of these elderly drivers gives a very bad impression. I am sure that many passengers wouldn't mind paying a little more for a journey made more pleasant by having drivers trained in customer care. 
Sunny Leung, Mid-Levels 
Tests worthy but flawed
I support the drug test scheme for schools. However, predictions that 100 pupils a month will seek help may be too optimistic. 
However, the tests may identify some students who have a drug problem. They will then be able to get counselling from social workers and then, hopefully, come off drugs.  
Also, the scheme has been modified and now students' positive results will not be passed on to police.  
The privacy of these young people will be protected and there is no risk of them being prosecuted in court. After all, a criminal record could ruin their prospects.  The consent of students and their parents must be sought and this protects the human rights of these teenagers.  
Victor Ng Ka-chun, Sha Tin
Reward quitters
I think a reward system is better than punishment to get teenagers who smoke to give up. 
For example, karaoke is popular with youngsters. It would be good if the government could work out an arrangement with a manufacturer so that young people who had successfully given up could get a discount on karaoke equipment. In terms of corporate responsibility, it would improve the company's public image.  
I also think that the government should increase tobacco tax every year.   
Kami Wu Hoi-wing, Mong Kok 
Pagan festival
The pagan feast of Halloween is foreign to Christian tradition and has become a superstitious  way of imposing mindless triviality. 
The day has its origins in the Celtic new year, which celebrated the return of the spirits of the dead to their homes. The observance of Halloween is mixed with Christian festivities whose meanings are totally contrary to Halloween. 
On November 1, Christians celebrate  the communion of saints. On November 2, we make visits to the cemetery as a religious  gesture inspired by the hope in the Resurrection.
I encourage Christians to celebrate the Christian truths of these days  as a response to the real concerns of mankind today. 
Tim Storey, London



Letters