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Letters

Most of globe experienced warming
I refer to the letter by G. Bailey ("Still a lot of doubts about climate change", December 17) in reply to my letter ("Deniers hurt climate change awareness", December 7).
I would like to emphasise again that the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report is the result of a collaborative compilation effort of some 260 scientists from about 40 countries, in which more than 9,200 scientific papers were cited. Backed by a huge amount of peer-reviewed scientific evidence, the report represents the consensus of the climate science community. To negate or dispute the conclusions of the report would require something much more than unsubstantiated claims.
Deniers like to focus on short-term fluctuations because it is easy to cherry-pick data they want. If we look at the earth's climate from a long-term perspective, almost the whole globe experienced warming in the last 112 years. The first decade of the 21st century has been the warmest decade since instrumental records began. A recent study revealed that the long-term cooling trend in the last 5,000 years was totally reversed by an abrupt warming trend in the most recent 100 years (Observatory's blog: www.hko.gov.hk/blog/en/archives/00000146.htm
The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the latest IPCC report highlighted observed changes that are unprecedented over decades to millennia. One of the most worrying observations is that the current atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is unprecedented over the last 800,000 years. The SPM also gives a concise account on the temperature trend in the last 15 years, although 15 years are normally regarded as too short for meaningful discussion on the long-term climate and climate change.
Lee Sai-ming, senior scientific officer, Hong Kong Observatory
 
Scandalous state of affairs in 'world city'
One wonders if the Hong Kong government will ever admit to the folly of its ways on reading Philip Bowring's words about the niggardly wages paid to ordinary workers here ("A living wage for all in HK", December 15).
For the leaders of one of the wealthiest enclaves in Asia to go on paying handsome salaries to themselves and their tycoon friends while granting measly wages to all those toiling for them in this supposed "world city" is not just scandalous, it shows a shameless example to the rest of the world.
Isabel Escoda, Lantau 
 
Protectionist barrier must be broken
I refer to C. K. Yeung's article ("The government must break through Hong Kong doctors' protectionist barrier", December 16).
He has rightly pointed out the culprit of the shortage of doctors in Hong Kong lies in the protectionism of the Medical Council and local doctors' union.
The Medical Council with a vested interest may have controlled the outcome of the exams to an extent which would not add competition to existing registered doctors, both in terms of position openings and doctors' fee, paying no regard to society's needs.
This is done at the expense of the public, and I believe it runs counter to the Hippocratic oath.
Prior to the handover, doctors from abroad particularly from recognised universities of the Commonwealth could practise here with minimal screening and registration.
After the handover, doctors trained under the same institutions are considered now incompetent until proven otherwise by people with vested interests who devise in-struments to screen out competition.
I know of people whose children got a place at one of Hong Kong's medical schools, but chose an overseas college to broaden their horizons.
Because of Hong Kong's protectionism, these people who have become respectable doctors, are forced to work abroad.
They would like to return to Hong Kong, because of their roots and family ties, but cannot because of the unnecessary hurdles highlighted by Mr Yeung.
In particular, there is the low exam pass rate [to work here] and low admission rate and the requirement to undertake a one-year internship that they have already done abroad while still junior doctors. You hear often about the shortage of junior doctors and their long working hours here. And, I have friends in long queues waiting for treatment in public hospitals. But, instead of getting more well-qualified doctors on board, the Medical Council ironically deters foreign-trained doctors from coming home and this is sad.
Surely, is it about time the Hong Kong government, in the interests of its citizens did something about this?
I agree with Yeung that the government, as a gatekeeper for the Hong Kong public, should right this wrong by breaking down the protectionist barrier.
A. Ng, Wan Chai 
 
Shek Kwu Chau is the worst option
I refer to the letter from Elvis W. K. Au, of the Environmental Protection Department ("Allaying fears over health risks posed by planned incinerator", December 16).
We are told the incineration scheme proposed is fine because it will reduce the volume of waste by 90 per cent, and that it will be "well" managed.
However, there are still points Mr Au needs to answer.
Why has Shek Kwu Chau been selected for the scheme since it is the worst possible option? How safely will the disposal of 30 per cent residue by weight (for every tonne burnt) of toxic ash be handled on an island exposed to typhoons?
Given a very large proportion of water-rich organic waste is supposed to feed the incinerator how can the waste to energy process be effective since everyone knows that water doesn't burn?
Wouldn't it be safer for the whole of Hong Kong to treat all organic waste separately and adopt a technology that doesn't leave 30 per cent of toxic waste by weight for every tonne burnt?
It would be more efficient to choose a site close to Hong Kong's landfills.
Recent reports still abound from around the world about carcinogenic emissions from so-called modern incinerators. Why is Mr Au insisting on supporting a dated and highly inconvenient technology, which is now considered to be unfit for a modern city?
Cleaning up our waste and reducing the size of the landfills within 15 years using plasma gasification would be a great Christmas present for Hong Kong.
Christian Masset, Lantau
 
Ensure that school gets long lease
My son attends the International Montessori School in Tin Hau.
He only started there in September, but he already loves it. He cannot wait to get on the school bus each day at 7.34am sharp for his half-day with his teachers.
I believe Hong Kong is a world-class city, and as such it deserves world-class schools. This is the only internationally accredited Montessori primary school in Asia outside Japan.
It is an incredibly valuable resource to the community and to Hong Kong. If I were the one in charge of the lease negotiations I would try to get the school to enter into the longest lease possible.
The Tin Hau campus is currently home to 350 children and their families.
It therefore goes without saying that the lease negotiations should be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
Whether or not to renew the lease is ultimately a decision of the Hong Kong government.
If the decision is made not to renew the lease, I have one simple request.
I would like someone in the Education Bureau to tell me how I should break this news to my four-year-old son.
Please tell me how I should tell him that he and his classmates are being kicked out of their lovely school, which will then be torn down to make way for a youth hostel that may or may not ever be built.
Tim Gardner, Central
 
Give minority students a better chance
The unemployment rate of ethnic minorities has remained relatively high in Hong Kong.
Often people who are from ethnic minorities have to do low-paid but physically demanding jobs.
They often have no choice because they don't know any Chinese.
This situation exists because many of them went to designated rather than mainstream school where limited Chinese is taught.
This means that they lack the necessary language skills that employers demand and it also makes it difficult to get accepted on some university courses in Hong Kong.
The designated schools have been described as a form of discrimination by a United Nations committee.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child has called on the Hong Kong government to end this policy and help children from ethnic minorities have access to mainstream schools.
While I think the UN's stand will eventually persuade the administration to act, these young people should also make the effort themselves to try and improve their Chinese-language skills and improve their career opportunities.
Chelsea Lo Chi-wing, Kwun Tong


Letters to the Editor, December 24, 2013

Long wait in the city's public hospitals. Photo: Felix Wong

Opinion

I refer to the letter by G. Bailey ("Still a lot of doubts about climate change", December 17) in reply to my letter ("Deniers hurt climate change awareness", December 7).
