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Overprotective parents spoil future leaders
Students attending university should no longer be regarded as children.
They are at such an institution partly to learn to be responsible, mature adults.
However, some parents in Hong Kong continue to be overprotective even when their sons and daughters have become undergraduates.
With previous generations, parents usually let their sons or daughters be more independent once they started studying at a tertiary institution. And yet now some mothers and fathers are accompanying them on the annual information day and they often ask the questions.
There have even been press reports of them complaining to the college authorities that their child is unhappy with the noise in halls of residence ("Parents' event ridiculed for 'babying' students", September 30).
These students are supposed to be the future pillars of our society.
If they continue to be mollycoddled in this way, they will grow up self-centred and be unable to work effectively with others.
Of course, parents have a very important role to play, but they must strike the right balance and allow their children to deal with and overcome the challenges they will face at college and develop their own personality.
Wong Yuk-chun, Lam Tin
 
Shield young from illegal cigarette trade
I am sure many readers will have been shocked by the figure in a study that revealed that 35.9 per cent of all cigarettes consumed in Hong Kong were illicit ("One in three HK cigarettes illegal: study", October 3).
The statistics presented may have exaggerated the problem. However, it is still totally unacceptable even if we halve the number to 18 per cent. These illegal cigarettes harm smokers and put young people at risk.
How can we make sure that no tobacco products are being sold to anyone below 18 when the sales network of smuggled tobacco is so sophisticated. Triads do not care if the buyer purchasing a pack is 18 or 14.
It is clear that those officials in charge of law enforcement have to take urgent action.
Lowering the tobacco duty is not feasible from a political point of view, but why not increase the minimum sentence the courts can impose for people convicted of being involved in the illegal cigarettes trade? In order to protect our teenagers, we need to discourage people from engaging in this illegal trade.
Yeung Wai-yip, Tin Shui Wai
 
Runaway prices fall foul of 'amah test'
Back in the colonial era, it was once explained to me how senior government officials realised when new policy initiatives were needed - their Cantonese-speaking amahs told them.
This was how, for example, compulsory group travel insurance came about. While it was hardly a matter of concern for Executive Council or Legislative Council members, it was dear to the hearts of amahs whose relatives had been cheated of annual holidays by incompetent or crooked travel agencies.
Can I therefore suggest that all amahs, especially those from the far-from-shy Philippines, constantly advise and remind their employers about the current escalation of inflationary pressures in the retail industry, as is noticeable within the ParknShop empire?
Even senior government officials must be aware how much more funding amahs now need to buy the basic food items each month for them, especially if sir or madam need exotica such as Scandinavian meats, Japanese fruits or organic goodies.
Of course, policymakers could ask ParknShop, Wellcome and their octopoid arms to provide comparative price lists for a range of standard food items, as of now and 12 months previously for each year since 2010. They will not do so, but many of their amahs could tell them the same harsh facts - supermarket retail prices have inflated alarmingly.
Some may suspect that a certain retail chain is attempting to boost its profit margins in order to make itself appear more attractive to potential buyers.
Hong Kong is either experiencing price gouging, or inflation, or both. Policies are needed to deal with them, amahs can and should tell Sir or Madam.
Barry Girling, Tung Chung
 
Slimmer bus service better than before
We refer to the letter by Brian Langdon-Pratt ("Fewer buses on Tai Hang to Central route", September 16) regarding bus service changes between Lai Tak Tsuen, Tai Hang Road and Central.
To reduce route overlap and unnecessary traffic burden caused by buses with low patronage on busy roads, New World First Bus and Citybus proposed to reorganise the former's routes 23A, 26M, 15C and Citybus route 12 as a package in the route development programme of the current year.
Having consulted the relevant district councils, the changes came into effect on July 14. Revisions were based on comments received and approved by the Transport Department. Overall operational and network efficiency has since been enhanced and buses are now redeployed to routes with higher passenger demand.
While the 23A has been cancelled, the service of the 26 during morning and evening peak hours, Monday to Friday (except public holidays) has been strengthened to 8-10 minutes and 12 minutes respectively, while the frequency at remaining service periods is now 12-20 minutes headway. Passengers who previously travelled via the 23A from Tai Hang Road to Central may now use route 26 or Citybus route 11 as alternatives.
We are constantly monitoring the service and operation of these routes and conducting reviews to better cater to passenger demand, and will continue our efforts to provide quality services for passengers.
Charlize Liu, public affairs manager, New World First Bus Services Limited, Citybus Limited
 
Wrong to say physics is immutable
I read with interest Richard Fielding's letter on the climate sceptics and the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report ("Latest climate findings get short shrift", October 8).
I would, however, take issue with his statement that "the laws of physics are immutable".
Given that the Standard Model explains how about 5 per cent of the known world works, the laws of physics are far from immutable. At least, in their defence, physicists humbly accept their ignorance.
Stephen Brown, Tai Po
 
Bad manners best met by understanding
Over the past few years, there have been confrontations between Hong Kong citizens and some mainland visitors over the latter group's rude behaviour.
I wonder if some of the accusations made against tourists from north of the border are valid.
It is true I have seen them jumping queues and speaking loudly when it is not appropriate to do so, such as while in the cinema.
Of course, we witness acts of rudeness, but some Hongkongers are almost fanatical in their levels of criticism and this in itself can be described as rude behaviour.
Where problems arise we need to find ways to deal with them.
I think it comes down to education and, in particular, a lack of moral education. However, we cannot transform attitudes throughout the mainland. What we can do is effect change by changing ourselves.
Most Hong Kong citizens are lucky enough to have received a good education. Surely, this should make us more open-minded and help us to appreciate that other people might have difficulties and to understand why they experience such difficulties.
When we encounter mainland visitors misbehaving in Hong Kong, we should not lose our temper. It is important in these situations to calm down, instead of overreacting and being overcritical.
We have to appreciate that many of these visitors have not been as lucky as we were in terms of receiving educational opportunities.
Oscar Chow, Sha Tin
 
Cast not the first styrofoam container
I refer to Bob Carson's letter about the lack of recycling choices and facilities in Hong Kong ("People will be charged for waste created by manufacturers", September 30).
Where I work, in Central, one of Hong Kong Island's biggest commercial landlords provides no recycling facilities that I have managed to identify.
At least, though, it's not too far from there to the multiple recycling facility in Two IFC - but why aren't there more of these?
Vendors of fast food and coffee ought also to be obliged to offer recycling facilities and decent financial incentives to those who bring their own containers. But some consumers do need to attend to their choices too as regards waste.
I recently took a photo of the bin at Central ferry pier 6 after just one morning commuter ferry had moored. It was overflowing with discarded styrofoam. And the waste bins are like this every day.
Did none of these people have time to bring breakfast from home?
Amanda Snow, Lantau


Letters to the Editor, October 11, 2013

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Students attending university should no longer be regarded as children.

Students attending university should no longer be regarded as children.