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Letters

Pointless to destroy fake products
I often read reports about crackdowns on counterfeit consumer products.
Huge quantities of these goods are seized in raids which are worth substantial sums of money.
Although they are fake goods, which infringe intellectual property rights and therefore break laws, they are often of a very high quality.
Often, the relevant authorities, after having seized this contraband, will destroy it and I am not sure this is a sound solution as it is so wasteful and not environmentally sound.
Of course, there must be effective legislation which ensures that fake goods are seized and that those who made them and attempt to sell them are prosecuted.
However, I do not think such products should be destroyed.
Consideration should be given to allowing them to be re-labelled so they can be sold and clearly marked as "fakes". The proceeds could go to owners of brands and intellectual property rights and to deserving charities.
This would be a win-win solution for everyone.
I would also like to see greater education of consumers who too often are seduced by expensive designer labels for egotistical reasons. This only encourages the counterfeiters.
The globalisation of brand-name products encourages people to pay excessive amounts for some goods when they could purchase a similar product offering the same features at significantly lower prices.
Also, many of these high-priced goods come with excessive packaging which is wasteful and bad for the environment.
We all have a responsibility to play our part in reducing pollution levels.
Those who are wealthy and even people who are not so well off should appreciate that going after well-known branded products takes a lot of their hard-earned money and the only real beneficiaries are large companies.
People are too keen to purchase the latest smartphone or other electronic gadgets. It is the same with fancy designer footwear, or optical frames promoted by movie stars and other fashion icons.
Consumers are being brainwashed into purchasing these products and, in doing so, they add to global pollution.
This vicious cycle of the big companies generating more profits and consumers' foolhardy egoism is polluting the planet.
L. B. Saw, Sha Tin
 
Fight against structures has petered out
It was not too long ago that there was a brouhaha over unauthorised structures at the homes of either aspiring or existing leaders of Hong Kong.
The relevant authorities appeared at first to be willing to crack down on the illegal apartments that you see on top of buildings all over Hong Kong, but apparently this is no longer the case.
I recently moved into a flat in Mong Kok and, from my window, I can see illegal structures on top of almost every building and on podiums and in open areas.
In fact, there are several "additional" flats above my apartment, even though, technically, my apartment is on the top floor.
It makes me wonder if the authorities are waiting for one of these owners to attempt a political career before they start to look seriously into these structures.
D. S. Sidhu, Mong Kok
 
Racism is on the rise in Australia
I have been in Australia as an international student for a number of years.
I have noticed that levels of racism in the country are on the rise and sometimes offensive comments are directed at international students.
I have been subjected to racial abuse by Australians on a number of occasions.
These are experiences which I find depressing and feel it is time to tell the truth about what is happening.
While racism is nothing new, I do feel that some Australians have become increasingly unfriendly, even hostile, to foreigners living there.
By contrast, when I visited Britain, I found the citizens friendly and tolerant.
On one occasion in Australia, a car approached and the occupants swore at me and told me I had no right to live in their country.
I was deeply upset by the incident, having not encountered such extreme hostility before then.
I have also heard young Australians making racist jokes about people from Asia.
My family paid expensive tuition fees so that I could be educated in the country.
I obviously spend money on various goods and services and international students like me contribute to the Australian economy at a time when the unemployment rate is high.
I often ask myself if I am to blame for the attitude of some citizens towards me. What have I done to offend them? I am only an international student. I do not work part time so I haven't taken a job from an Australian and I always try to be friendly towards Australians, so I am mystified by the intolerant attitudes I encounter from citizens.
Although Australian cities have been rated highly internationally, in terms of quality of life, I sometimes feel very isolated, as if I am surrounded by an invisible wall and I sometimes avoid talking to people.
Australian Senator George Brandis proposes changes to the Racial Discrimination Act saying that "people do have a right to be bigots".
What will this lead to? Why can't Australia be a more fair and tolerant country?
Kennedy Li, Sydney, Australia
 
Reduce gap between rich and poor
Hong Kong has kept its seventh-place ranking for a second year in the annual Global Competitiveness Index released by the World Economic Forum.
In other words, it has stayed in the same position as last year which indicates it has not improved its competitive edge. There is more that needs to be done so that the city can perform better. The area where it must show improvements is with the economy and the government has an important role to play. It must recruit more experts to analyse shortcomings in our economy and devise the best policies to enable us to move forward.
The administration must do something about the unfair distribution of resources. This has led to the gap between rich and poor in our society becoming wider. Officials must ensure a fairer distribution of resources.
The Hong Kong government can learn from the economic policies of different countries, such as Singapore. The two cities face similar challenges when it comes to staying competitive in an evolving global economy.
Natalie Fong Wing-yin,Tseung Kwan O
 
Pensioners often forced to stand on buses
Given the crowded conditions on public transport in Hong Kong, it is usually the case that there are not enough seats for all the passengers on board. When I travel on a bus or MTR carriage, I often see elderly passengers being forced to stand.
Why is it that so many people do not give up their seats for pensioners, even when they are occupying priority seating which is supposed to be left free for older people?
The situation can be improved through better education of young people.
Teachers should explain to their students why it is important to offer up a seat to an elderly passenger who is having to stand. Transport operators also need to do more to get this message across.
Yu Ka-ling, Sham Shui Po


Letters to the Editor, October 1, 2014

Counterfeit goods seized by customs. Photo: Sam Tsang

Opinion

I often read reports about crackdowns on counterfeit consumer products. Huge quantities of these goods are seized in raids which are worth substantial sums of money.


Letters to the Editor, October 1, 2014

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}I often read reports about crackdowns on counterfeit consumer products. Huge quantities of these goods are seized in raids which are worth substantial sums of money.

I often read reports about crackdowns on counterfeit consumer products. Huge quantities of these goods are seized in raids which are worth substantial sums of money.