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Letters

Freedom of information overdue
The government's refusal to allow full disclosure of the Lamma ferry disaster investigation report vividly puts Hong Kong's lack of freedom of information in perspective.
The explanation by officials that publication will hamper ongoing criminal investigations as a justification sugarcoated the inconvenient truth that the grieving families simply have no legal entitlement whatsoever to be informed of the report's content.
The lack of a right-to-information regime in Hong Kong has placed its citizens in a passive position. Without a statutory duty to disclose and clear delineation of the limited circumstances where the government can legitimately refuse disclosure, citizens are forced to accept wishy-washy explanations provided by officials that are more often a bureaucratic escape route than a genuine gesture to address concerns.
The current Code on Access to Information is inadequate, as it applies only to departments listed on its appendix and does not mandate the government to archive information.
The code also enables the government to deny disclosure in a multitude of overly broad scenarios framed in general terms. As the administration can do so on grounds of its "efficient management and operation", it is no exaggeration to say that the code is a decorative tool that exists to protect primarily the government's interests.
Freedom of information is the least the Hong Kong government can offer amid its lack of representativeness and the grim future of universal suffrage. Its recognition is overdue to truly establish accountability in the government and its officials.
The ongoing conflict between the administration of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and the public demonstrates how important it is for the government to step into the light in order to clear suspicions that breed confusion and fear.
Billy Yiu Wing-ping, Pok Fu Lam
 
HK needs populism, not elitism
Hong Kong is a "paragon of stability and prosperity", according to Basic Law Committee member Johnny Mok ("Broad mandate", May 5), implying it should focus on that rather than being a "paragon of democracy".
An online dictionary defines "stability" as "firmness of position", "continuance without change" and "resistance to change, especially sudden change or deterioration". Stability for the elite is what he really means; otherwise it is "populism" of the masses.
I think that the behaviour of the "elite" (high officials, some tycoons and Beijing-affiliated people) lately shows that this so-called stability can affect the prosperity of most ordinary citizens of Hong Kong.
Ignoring the needs of the bulk of the population only leads to disaster.
Jennifer Eagleton, Tai Po
 
Make city a clean-energy role model
I refer to the report ("Replacing coal would risk 4,000 jobs", April 30).
While I understand the concerns about the potential loss of jobs, it is important to consider the fact that burning coal to generate power is not efficient. It may be a cheap and consolidated way to provide power, but it increases the greenhouse effect and air pollution through its emission of particulates.
The report quotes a representative from a CLP employees union. However, I cannot believe this is the position of the unions in the two power firms.
I am sure the workers in Hongkong Electric and CLP agree that it is not sustainable to stop progress towards cleaner and more efficient power generation to preserve jobs.
Following the same logic, we could say that hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost with the transition from the horse to the internal combustion engine as a means of transportation.
The union leader talks of a third option. A third option, as I see it (which would offer a big challenge to the utilities in the SAR), would be how to transform the power issue into an opportunity to get new generation, smart grid and intelligent buildings technologies implemented in Hong Kong, together with whatever distributed power is generated from private citizens. There also need to be strong incentives to deploy electric vehicles.
This will generate thousands of new hi-tech jobs, improve Hong Kong's environment and make it a role model as the "energy management city of the future".
I have no doubt that Hong Kong can achieve these targets.
S. Desideri, Sai Kung
 
Reduce impact of pollution on children
The article in Post Magazine ("Bad air daze", May 4) highlighted the impact of air pollution on children's health with the story of a couple who decided to leave for New Zealand, but there are things we can do to limit the effects on children's health if we are stuck here.
Airborne particles containing lead and mercury fall to the ground as household dust and we must make sure that our children consume as little of this as possible.
One simple but effective method is to leave our shoes at the door when we come home.
Another is to make sure children's hands are always clean before handling food.
Following these two methods will reduce the impact of air pollution on our children's health.
Stephen Thompson, Lamma
 
Cooled trams would break with tradition
Trams on Hong Kong Island are undoubtedly regarded as a symbol of the city.
I found it surprising to read about a pilot project that will test technical feasibility of using air conditioning in them ("On track for air-conditioned tram experiment", May 5).
As there has been extremely serious roadside air pollution, especially in Causeway Bay, the need for air-conditioned trams, in order to improve comfort, is understandable.
However, as Emmanuel Vivant, Hong Kong Tramways' managing director, pointed out, this unique mode of transport is serving two very different groups of passengers - daily commuters and those who wish to preserve the heritage. For the latter, trams without cooling equipment have their own unique style and atmosphere. This group wants tradition on this historic mode of transport preserved.
Therefore, it is appropriate for the company to conduct in-depth customer service surveys and give careful consideration to its proposals before formally introducing air-conditioned trams.
Charlie W. Chan, Sha Tin
 
Park Island road closure lacks sense
On Park Island, Ma Wan, there are two public roads. One is the road used by the bus company Park Island Transport Company Ltd to enter the Park Island bus terminus, the other is Pak Lai Road leading from the ferry pier towards Noah's Ark and the park.
There is a private side road off Pak Lai Road that leads towards the Blue-Blue Club.
Some weeks ago the management company on Park Island decided to erect a series of bollards connected by a plastic chain across this side road.
On the plastic chain a notice was hung saying people should not loiter as this was for emergency access.
When I first saw this, I wrote to the management company asking it how this could be a form of emergency access when it was locked and chained.
Shortly after I had written, this locked barrier was removed. I welcomed this move and thought common sense had prevailed.
However, I was mistaken, as the road is now blocked by five bollards. There is a new notice which says that this is a private area with no mention of emergency access.
So at the stroke of a pen, a road can be changed from pedestrian and emergency access to only pedestrian access? I find this a very strange decision.
I have been trying to get the management to change an unused exercise area into a useful one for the last 10 months, but to no avail.
And yet, an emergency access, a potentially life-saving route, can be changed at the drop of a hat.
Bob Beadman, Ma Wan
 
Rising visitor numbers have mixed impact
Differing opinions have been expressed since the individual visit scheme was implemented in Hong Kong in 2003.
Some back it and others do not think it has been of benefit to the city.
It has brought many more mainland visitors here and boosted business in the restaurant and retail sectors.
Businessmen therefore support the scheme, because they contend it has helped economic growth.
Ordinary citizens have been less enthusiastic, especially because of the large numbers of mainland tourists who add to congestion in areas like Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay. Residents complain about crowded pavements and more noise.
The scheme has had positive and negative impacts and we have to strike a balance between the economic development and livelihood needs of citizens.
The scheme must be integrated into plans for sustainable development.
Yu Ka-ling, Kowloon Tong


Letters to the Editor, May 9, 2014

Coal-fired Castle Peak power station. Photo: SCMP

Nominating committee's vital role in safeguarding Hong Kong's interests

Broad mandate

Replacing coal power would put at risk 4,000 jobs: union

Families packing up and leaving Hong Kong over pollution life expectancy fears

A banner showing an idyllic harbour view belies the true picture behind. The air-pollution index on that day, August 22 last year, was at "very high", with the city blanketed in haze. Photos; Sam Tsang; May Tse; K.Y. Cheng; David Wong; AFP; Will Hayward/courtesy of the Haywood family; courtesy of the Brinner family

William Hayward and Sasha Haldane with their daughter, Alyssa, at a flower fair in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, in January 2009.

Haldane with her children, Max and Alyssa, on Castle Hill in New Zealand's South Island in January this year.

Haze hangs over Victoria Harbour on January 10, last year.

A physical-education class at a school in Mong Kok on March 23, 2010, when the air-pollution index was at a high.

Professor Anthony Hedley

Undersecretary for the Environment Christine Loh.

Stirling and Rebekah Brinner with their children, Zoe (right) and Tabby, in Philadelphia.

On track for air-conditioned tram experiment

Trams such as those plying their routes through Causeway Bay may be joined by a test vehicle fitted with a more powerful engine and air-conditioning. Photo: Dickson Lee

Opinion

The government's refusal to allow full disclosure of the Lamma ferry disaster investigation report vividly puts Hong Kong's lack of freedom of information in perspective.
