bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Test system must be revamped
It is my estimation that after 10 years of schooling, students in Hong Kong's local school system will have each taken in excess of 500 uniform tests and exams.
This statistic may be shocking enough for most people, but the real scandal lies in the fact that many students currently studying in so-called band three schools may have actually failed to 'pass' any of the tests they have sat throughout their school career.
 A one-size-fits-all exam  system causes students to become disillusioned with education at an early age and many of them will leave school with no qualifications.
Why not introduce more foundation papers for subjects like English, where they will at least have the chance to show basic competence to future employers?
 It is not just the weaker students who suffer from this test overload - teaching to the test also encourages rote-learning practices, which leads to submissive and disengaged students.
 On the bright side, this is good for an authoritarian society where harmony trumps all and apathy is encouraged - we are in China after all.
Oliver Gosling, Tuen Mun
Pupils from minorities need help
I refer to the report, ('Minorities need Chinese to succeed',  September 14).
 I agree that the government should do something for minorities in Hong Kong.
Discrimination against children from minority groups is not unusual in society.
Mainstream schools are unwilling to give them a place, as it will take more time and effort to teach them written and spoken Chinese than working with native-speaking local children.
 They may be rejected because of these limited resources. 
Without a proper education, children from minority groups will struggle when it comes to reading and writing Chinese. Some may not even speak Cantonese, or at least not speak it fluently.
 It will be hard for them to find decent jobs when they grow up. 
The government should offer subsidies to schools which are willing to enrol these children and provide them with an education. The schools could use these additional resources to help these children improve their written and spoken Chinese.
If they are as good as native speakers, their career prospects will improve. 
Another reason for the discrimination against minority children is a lack of understanding. 
The government should try to educate the public to improve the image of minority groups, given that many of these young people want to serve this society. 
I would also like to see subsidies offered which could help these youngsters as they enter the job market.  
James Lee Kam-fai, Tsuen Wan        
A wake-up call for developers
I refer to the report, ('Nan Fung buys back unsold flats', September 15). 
 Normally it is poor form to gloat on the misfortune of others.
However, in this particular case, the fact that 90 per cent of the flats at Queen's Cube  have remained unsold is cause for celebration.
During October last year, after these Wan Chai (so-called) apartments were released onto the market, there was a flood of correspondence ridiculing the actual living area and the extreme pricing.
This project became the focal point for anger as ordinary people saw this as the epitome of developer greed. 
It was pointed out at the time that the tycoon developers would continue to push their profit maximising (product mini- mising) strategies until the market said, 'No - we are not buying these matchboxes'.
Thankfully, it appears that this tipping point has been reached, and a developer has been 'left holding the baby'.
It is still questionable how the Urban Renewal Authority ever got involved in such outlandish luxury property deals.
 Property companies should not treat their customers with disdain. Hopefully, some lessons have been learned.
Christian Rogers, Wan Chai   
Tough laws can curb pollution
Pollution levels in Hong Kong are getting worse.
The problem has been exacerbated by the amount of construction and renovation projects under way. 
This work seems to go on without ceasing.  
On the positive side, these projects keep employment rates high. But the pace of the development is proving destructive.  
 With the construction sites belching sand particles into the air and trucks plying our roads full of debris, the air that we breathe is filled with pollutants.  
Where is our right to enjoy fresh air, to be able to open the windows at our homes so we may feel a cool and free breeze? 
Hongkongers want to have a decent quality of life and that right should be recognised.  
Is the Hong Kong government immune to all this? 
It says it wants to combat pollution, so let us see sincere efforts on its part to do so.  
I want to see some concrete actions and legislation which deals with the more serious effects of pollution. 
Edith Kuruneru, Mid-Levels    
Service fee increase at bank is steep
I note that my HSBC business account monthly service fee has gone up by HK$50 - an inflation-busting 33 per cent increase.
 Since June 2009, this represents a 250 per cent increase (from HK$80 to HK$200).
Could HSBC explain to us all how it arrived at 33 per cent?
 Is it because it has reduced waiting times by that amount? Are there 33 per cent more tellers on duty? 
Have bank tellers' wages gone up 33 per cent. Or are they just gouging us?
Gareth Jones, Sheung Wan
Lively art scene is fragmented
I have just returned from Seoul where I participated in the  26th Asian International Art Exhibition. 
With 11 countries having work on show, the interaction between artists was friendly and open in a city where it was the art that mattered. In visiting all the major museums and galleries, there was an immediate difference between Seoul and Hong Kong.
 They all had a range of restaurants and coffee shops that catered for both local and tourist needs. Most important,  the museums' shops were beautiful with a range of items for every purse and all in good taste, in keeping with the museum.
 It seems that art was of much more general interest that it is here in that it has a higher status within society.
I cannot speak for the Chinese media but it seems to me our coverage of art in Hong Kong is very hit and miss.
We have a lively art scene but somehow it is fragmented so there is little real critical assessment of the spectrum of art that does get shown. Hardware is not the answer. We need to take a long, hard look  at how art is appreciated and West Kowloon will not solve the problem.
It goes much deeper, we need to educate our children in the real worth of art as something of intellectual value.
We want people who understand curatorial expertise, who know the difference between art and decoration and can deliver this to the grass roots.
Norman de Brackinghe, Pok Fu Lam
Some officials are corrupt
I refer to the report ('32 detained in raids on kitchen oil network', September 14). I find it tragic when I read about these tainted food scandals which sometimes result in deaths. People are willing to risk the health of others just for money.  
The fact that these scandals keep happening would suggest some officials are bribed.  
This creates a bad image of Chinese society to the rest of the world. Many people abroad are reluctant to buy some products that were made in China. This could adversely affect the mainland's economy.  There are problems relating to low moral standards which have to be dealt with by the government.  
Beijing must ensure that the next generation are educated to realise the importance of having the right attitude. This can curb these illicit practices. 
It also has to tighten its regulation of producers and I would suggest an agency along the lines of our Independent Commission Against Corruption.  
Jessie Lam Hiu-kwan, Tsuen Wan



Letters