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SCMP Reporter

Put drink-drive charges on par with assault
In cases where following a fatal accident a person is arrested on suspicion of drink-driving, they will be granted HK$5,000 bail by the police and allowed to go home while the police investigate the accident. 
The police will probably later prefer charges against the driver by summons. This is current routine procedure in such cases, but it is time  it was stopped.
In other serious criminal cases where injuries have been inflicted on a victim, a suspect is detained  until brought before a magistrate. It is then normal practice for the magistrate to remand the suspect in custody while police investigations are conducted. 
It is time to review the outdated procedure of releasing on bail dangerous drivers who kill and maim pedestrians. They should be detained until their case comes to trial. 
Custodial sentences are now usually awarded in drink and dangerous driving cases when people have been injured so there is no longer any good reason to continue granting bail during the investigation period. 
The practice of granting  bail evolved in the bad old days when dangerous drivers usually received only a paltry fine for causing even the worst  accidents. 
Detaining motorists during the investigation of serious accidents would act as a great deterrent to all motorists, encouraging them to drive more carefully  and discouraging drink-drivers from taking to their cars. 
P. A. Crush, Sha Tin
Leader must be our advocate
I refer to Audrey Lam's letter ('Without Beijing's patronage, HK would be just another city', January 1).
The author seems to conflate two different principles. The first is the principle of state sovereignty, a cornerstone of international politics. The other is the right of a society to free elections, itself a component of democracy. Further, she repeats an oft-heard misconception about the rationale of elections and thus draws an erroneous conclusion.
It is true that the United States 'had no right' in invading other states such as Iraq, but not because of any majority rule principle at the international level, but because it infringed another state's sovereignty. The concept of majority rule is alien on the international level: we do not have a one-world government.  
Ms Lam seems to think that free elections are meant chiefly to produce the best leader for a community. 
This is only correct in the broadest sense. For our context of Hong Kong, an important objective is to find a leader who can best voice our needs and concerns to Beijing. 
That is the essence of representative democracy - to find an individual who will act in our best interests, an agent of the people. 
The child care metaphor that the author wrestles with assumes that Hong Kong is completely immature and needs to be guided as to its future development. This is patronising and wrong. 
Even the most illiterate peasants from the most isolated corner of a country cannot be characterised in this way. People know their needs, be it a clean water supply, or the removal of a lead-spewing factory. This is even more the case with  the free-thinking individuals of Asia's world city.
To extend the child care metaphor further, Hong Kong should not be led by a nanny who is more concerned about her next  pay cheque from papa, than for the well-being of her charge. 
We require an independent advocate who understands our interests and is willing to stand up for them to our 'parent', Beijing.
Simon Au Ming-si, Kowloon Tong
HK could set green standards
Given Hong Kong's high carbon footprint, it would be wrong for the government to shelter under the umbrella of China and rely on its environmental policies.  
We should urge our administration to implement feasible measures  to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
Vehicles are the main source of these emissions.  I welcome the decision to import electric cars since they do not emit any pollutants and their use could help reduce air pollution levels.  But the cost these vehicles is quite high. I believe the government should offer subsidies to encourage motorists to switch from petrol to electric cars.  
There are other practical measures that the government could adopt, such as imposing a higher  tax on cars.  
The government should also promote  the use of renewable energy, such as wind  and tidal power. There should be a large-scale promotion of solar power. 
This would suit Hong Kong with its limited space as solar panels can be put on the roofs of buildings and it does not take long to install them.  If the government takes the lead by putting these panels on its buildings, then I am sure more people will  follow suit.  
Penny Yip Pui-yue, Tsz Wan Shan
Kids suffer for lack of school
I refer to M. Ferguson's letter ('A revitalised Mui Wo school could set new path in education', January 6).
 I take the morning ferry every day from Mui Wo and  there are so many children travelling to schools on Hong Kong Island, because of  the lack of  facilities in that part of Lantau. Most of them sleep on the ferry. Considering the amount of homework they need to do, it is obvious they get very little rest and barely any time to pursue  the extra-curricular activities that are  essential for their development. The vacant Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary school provides an ideal opportunity to promote a dual language curriculum for the local community.  
Mui Wo residents are not against a drug rehabilitation centre nor are they heartless, even though they have been portrayed as such by  some people.  
 This is the only site available and  residents want the education of their children to be given priority,  which  is the basic right of every community.
I strongly urge the government to take into consideration the sentiments of the local people if it wishes to create a  harmonious society.
Dyutimoy Chakraborty, Lantau
Society cannot turn blind eye
It alarmed me to witness an incident that showed the heartless attitude of some people living in Hong Kong.
While I was about to board a ferry on New Year's Eve, I realised that an elderly lady was struggling to get her bag back from a thief.
 The thief proved to be stronger and ran away with the lady's bag. I felt so annoyed and shouted: 'Someone is stealing! Thief! Thief!'
I saw her husband rush to try and catch the bag-snatcher, but he fell down. 
Nobody came to their aid and I could only shout, because my feet were too sore to run.
Hongkongers must come to realise that if we ignore little things like this, the city cannot become what we want it to be and what we are working so hard to achieve.
Karen Li Yan-yan, Mong Kok
Ease delays at passport control
We are fortunate to have what is without doubt one of the world's best airports. 
However I am concerned about the long time it has taken people recently to get through passport control.
Over the Christmas period our daughter came from Michigan and later old friends arrived from New York. Both experienced delays of up to an hour at passport control. 
There were too many visitors for the number of officers on duty. And our Filipina helper took an hour after landing with many others on a Philippines Airline flight. 
The domestic helpers are segregated from other visitors and  on Tuesday night for a while there was no officer and then there were two or three, but the service was slow.
Is it possible that the government could improve this important service so that  people do not enter Hong Kong with a long delay and a feeling of disappointment?
Toby Marion, Pok Fu Lam
Ban by phases
Since the government extended the smoking ban, I feel the air has become much cleaner in many indoor venues.  I agree that it should go further by abolishing duty-free cigarettes and raising the tobacco tax.  These measures could lead to a further improvement in air quality and might persuade some smokers to give up. 
However, I do not think there should be a steep hike in one go. Given last year's economic shock, many people are still struggling to earn a living.  If the tax is too high, it will be too harsh for those smokers with financial problems.  It would be better to increase the tax in stages, annually. 
Jonathan Mak Ka-long, Sha Tin
Wage law is just
I agree with the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce's claim regarding a statutory minimum wage (' Minimum wage could cost 'up to 152,000 jobs' ', December 23).
If such a law is introduced running costs for businesses will rise and in order to  control these costs, some firms will lay off staff.  
 However, I see this as a short-term reaction. Over time, employers will gradually come to accept this policy.  
They will realise that as it is law, potential employees will demand the minimum wage. Employers will eventually have to pay it, or they will not have enough staff.  
 We should support this proposed legislation, because we should all care about the poor.  
If people on low incomes are guaranteed a minimum wage, I think we will have a more peaceful society. 
The tycoons should be willing to give up a bit more of their profits to help  more people. 
The sooner the law comes into force, the sooner employers will come to accept it.  
Peter Cheung, Sha Tin



Letters