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People do not rent property by choice
It is high time that honest discussions took place here in China (Hong Kong and the mainland) regarding soaring housing prices and potential meltdown. I  disagree with Hu Shuli ('A thriving rental sector can ease soaring property prices and curb panic buying', May 26).  
 Hu  believes governments should make renting a major part  of the solution to  accommodation problems rather than placing emphasis on  people owning their own homes in the near future.  This is her answer to soaring housing prices. She  refers to examples from other countries implying that  some Europeans prefer to rent. 
 Hu says: 'Buying a property is an investment, but renting one adds to consumer spending and will boost the domestic demand needed to transform China's growth model.'  
She says: 'Property investment is favoured because the government's prolonged control of the financial market has limited investment options.'   
People rent by necessity and few people want long-term rentals. It is not a lifestyle choice. Renting is  the only way for people who cannot buy a house,  and may never be able to, because of  soaring  prices. Nobody wants to succumb to having to pay for other people's investments [in property]. 
Yet that is the reality for many. You rent a house from other people. Your money pays for their investment. And therein lies  the problem.
 Anyone who has ever played the board game Monopoly as a youngster will know this. 
Money is always gathered into the hands of those lucky enough to get the first valuable properties  and those same people will in turn then be most likely to win the game. 
I  would not be happy having to spend all my life paying for other people's investments (that is, their houses). 
I suspect that  mainland citizens, whether they are rich or poor, would feel the same way as I do.  
Kristjan Arnthorsson, Shenzhen    
Students must be wary of contracts
Many students will be seeking temporary jobs during the summer break.  However, some Hong Kong companies will want these young people to accept self-employed status so they do not have to pay them the statutory minimum wage.  
Some youngsters who have little or no experience of the job market could end up being exploited by employers who set a trap for them. 
 They must check carefully before signing any contracts and they should be very wary of jobs where they are told they could earn a lot of money as it could be a false promise. 
They should discuss the matter with family members who have more experience at finding work.  
The government should also produce advertisements warning students about the possible pitfalls they could face.  
Agnes Tam Hoi-ting, Kowloon Bay  
Hongkongers have not forgotten
 The huge turnout at the Victoria Park candle-light vigil [to commemorate June 4, 1989] was really amazing.
 Police crowd-control measures created a tortuous route for those attending the vigil. Despite this, and the heat, people kept pouring into the park.   
You would expect that 10 or 20 years after what happened, people  would start to forget. But clearly, although they get older, they do not forget.  The very significant attendance by youngsters on Saturday  showed that they have taken up the torch, shining a light on the darker aspects of our motherland.  
Also, more mainlanders joined the vigil and every year non-Chinese attend.  
This vigil is unique to Hong Kong and I think it should be sponsored by the government.  The 1.3 billion people across the Shenzhen River have little knowledge of these events and they are not given the opportunity to hold any vigil.  
There are many people from around the world who respect human rights and democracy and who want to attend this unique vigil on Chinese soil. The Hong Kong Tourism Board should seriously consider promoting this annual event.  
C. W. Chan, North Point 
Be pragmatic over illegal structures
The government often has a  serious lack of problem-solving skills.
 The latest debacle of illegal structures prevalent throughout Hong Kong has been festering for years.
 Instead of  the rather hysterical, overblown response we have seen in the past few weeks, why can't property owners keep structures deemed safe?
 Why not have a list of approved inspectors to check out the structures within, say, six to 12 months? If all is safe then one can keep the building the way it is. If not, give owners a strictly  enforced three to six months' time frame for remedial action. Simple really.
P. Gilbert, Lam Tin
Officials should act promptly
Government officials and legislators must always be seen to be law abiding and to be accountable for the mistakes they have made. 
 All those who have been caught and confirmed to have illegal structures or extensions erected on their properties that are in breach of the law should take immediate action. 
They should  make the necessary modifications to their properties so they fully comply with the law and there should be no delays.  
They should make prompt admissions if they are at fault and apologise.  
There is no excuse for people in those responsible positions to give unacceptable explanations. 
If a structure is deemed by the laws of Hong Kong to be  illegal there is no point procrastinating about it.  
 In this regard, some officials and lawmakers have let themselves down and performed very badly.  
Nicholas Low, Tseung Kwan O
Mothers ignore road traffic rules
Susannah Hirst correctly comments on the availability of exclusive parking offered only to Hong Kong's elite ('Tai-tais and bosses must be stopped from causing such serious congestion', June 1).
 This abuse of the  traffic law is, however, not purely a tai-tai creation;  try driving along Stubbs Road  at Bradbury School, during the pick-up and drop-off hour.  Mothers seem to think it their divine right to mount kerbs, make illegal U-turns and double park with absolutely no concern for the obstruction they cause. Membership of the double yellow line club is a privilege indeed.  
Mark Peaker, The Peak



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