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SCMP Reporter

RTHK must meet public's expectations
With the uncertainties around RTHK removed Hong Kong's public broadcaster looks to the future. This includes expanding  services, digital broadcasting, embracing technology and enhancing band width, range and quality of programming mix. Public broadcasters around the world  face a similar core set of challenges in their quest to produce high-quality programmes.
These  broadcasters have been  among the first to adopt new initiatives. BBC iPlayer has shown itself to be something of a kite mark of new creative potential. 
It proved to be brilliantly innovative in content and ease of access, let alone in terms of a stream of international revenue, through its commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary, BBC Worldwide.
In the US, ground-breaking public broadcasters developed the first out-and-out digital channel given over to high-definition TV and saw the spectrum of possibilities inherent in the digital world.  The French Conseil Superieur de l'Audiovisuel, remains a strong public broadcaster, promoting quality and diversity and the French language and culture.
 Audience expectations continue to evolve. Increasingly today's consumers want informed content, images, films, and arts available bite-sized, on their wristwatches and huge plasma screens. 
Today it is in news, arts, culture and children's programming, traditional public service broadcasting areas, where funds are needed.
Few public broadcasting organisations, if any, have the stability of assured long-term funding. Lean and unreliable revenue streams, and in RTHK's case, protracted uncertainty over its future, have arrested its development of serious programme content,  research and development, new experimental work and reaching out to  new audiences. For RTHK there are, perhaps, new opportunities to seize initiatives to encourage creativity in Hong Kong's community, to serve as a seeding ground for new talent, and to support the cultural aspirations of a world city.
RTHK must meet viewers' and listeners' expectations of programming when they want it and through whatever means or platform they choose. If it can do that and if earmarked resources can be put aside for R&D, the possibilities for strengthening its service to the public and adding value to education, galvanising community engagement and enhancing Hong Kong's media landscape and cultural environment, are legion.
Kevin Thompson, member, RTHK programme advisory panel
Improvements at Hung Hom
We would like to thank Kate Mead for her comments on the arrangements at Hung Hom station ('Chaos at Hung Hom MTR is dangerous', November 9).
 The recent linking of the East Rail Line and West Rail Line at Hung Hom station is only one part of a broader plan to improve railway transportation as laid out in the government's Railway Development Strategy 2000.
 As part of this plan, Hung Hom station will be redeveloped as a hub, not only connecting the East Rail and West Rail lines, but will also be a factor in the Sha Tin to Central Link project which will see the railway service extended from Ma On Shan to Hung Hom and the East Rail Line extended from Hung Hom across the harbour to Hong Kong Island.
 In the meantime, a number of upgrades at the station have been completed to improve the travelling experience for passengers. Two new escalators have been installed connecting the platforms with the concourse while the platform has been upgraded with new lighting, flooring, and 30 new LCD monitors displaying train information.
 For passengers requiring an interchange between lines at Hung Hom station, we will continue to strive to make the experience  smoother and more convenient. While the vast majority of passengers are experiencing cross-platform interchanges during peak periods, Ms Mead may be encouraged to learn that we are exploring changes to the signalling system to achieve better synchronisation in the arrival and departure times of East Rail Line and West Rail Line trains.
 Finally, safety is always the top priority of the MTR Corporation and measures have been put in place to facilitate a smooth passenger flow. 
To provide information to passengers on the interchange arrangements, we  recently deployed additional station ambassadors at Hung Hom station.
James Tsui, media relations manager, MTR Corporation
Idling engine posters 'praised'
Congratulations are in order to the administration for its latest 'Stop Idling Engines' poster campaign. 
The placement of posters alongside bus stops is guaranteed to have maximum impact on waiting bus passengers and passing pedestrians, just the kind of people who need to be told to stop their idling engines.
The government official responsible is clearly a genius who should be thanked for another worthwhile use of taxpayers' money.
Paul Gardiner, Happy Valley
Do more to curb teen smoking
I think more must be done about the problem of teenage smoking. 
We cannot just sit back and do nothing.  
Teenagers have misconceptions about smoking, which is the main reason why they start.  Many do not understand the consequences of smoking.  
Some are curious and just want to try once, others are influenced by peer pressure or mistakenly think it is cool to smoke.  
They feel that it is no big deal to light up and that they will be able to control their habit.  
However, once they start, it is not long before they become addicted to cigarettes.  
More must be done to educate young people about the risks involved in smoking.  
Penny Li, Sha Tin
Not in front of the children
These days, nobody can claim to be unaware of the serious health risks of smoking, or indeed of the health risks forced on those within reach of their second-hand smoke.
You would think, therefore, that parents would wish to preserve, at the very least, their own children from the dangers conferred by their  habit.
Recently, I was horrified to see several groups of parents smoking while in very close proximity to their own young children. In one flagrant case, a toddler was held  by a parental hand on both sides and both parents were smoking as they walked along.
 If such parents are intent on poisoning themselves by their habit, that is sad enough.  But it is difficult to understand the mentality of some parents who needlessly and heedlessly expose their own flesh and blood to such dangers and at a very tender age.
Paul Surtees, Mid-Levels 
Parents can be too critical
You often hear parents and teachers saying that today's teenagers lack direction and are not motivated.  They complain that we teenagers lack focus and do not care about our future. 
It is understandable that adults should be concerned about the  younger generation  as what we do with our lives will determine the future of our society. However,  times have changed. When our parents were young, the new technology we know today was in its early stages. As teenagers they were not that well off.  
 Young people growing up in the 21st century face a lot of difficulties. We live in a far more competitive environment where job opportunities are limited. As society becomes more highly developed and materialistic, we face even greater pressure.  Instead of being so critical adults should try and have a better understanding of the problems that we face.  
Jessica Chow, Hung Hom 
Reopen school
Despite a policy address that placed emphasis on the importance of education and family values, this government continues to ignore the communities of South Lantau.
Since 2004, education concern groups have been asking that a local, vacant school should be reopened.  
Families on South Lantau have suffered a great disruption as children travel up to three hours per day to school; 1,600 people recently signed a petition requesting the reopening of the New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School.
Will the government give this community a fair hearing and  proper consultation as to the  use of this school? 
So far, it has not  done so and continues to make pronouncements without reference to pressing local needs. Now is the time  for the government to prove its impartiality and  commitment to local families and good education for all in the community.
Julia Brown, Mui Wo 
Raise the bar
 A lot of people have expressed concern about the Disneyland planned for Shanghai. They are concerned it will affect our economy as fewer tourists will come to Hong Kong Disneyland. I understand their arguments, but I do not think we should be too worried. 
 If a place is popular with travellers they will continue to visit.  
Rather than being worried about losing business, we should ask ourselves if we can do better. After all, actions speak louder than words. 
We will lose business, unless the Disneyland on Lantau rises to the challenges it will face.  
Chan Tat-lin, Tsuen Wan



Letters