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Letters

Need to raise breast cancer awareness
I refer to the report ("In the pink: where to join the campaign against breast cancer", October 10).
Breast cancer is the number one cancer among women in Hong Kong affecting citizens of all ages.
However, despite its prevalence there still appears to be a high level of ignorance about it and about the importance of getting prompt medical help.
I think there is a need for a more concerted education campaign by the government to educate the public, so that at least people are armed with basic knowledge of the disease and its symptoms. The pink ribbon is a powerful symbol in the fight against this disease.
The colour evokes traditional feminine gender roles, such as caring and being cooperative. The ribbon also represents a show of support for women suffering from breast cancer.
Again, I think the government could do more to promote this symbol in Hong Kong. The more aware women are of this pink ribbon campaign then the more likely they are to have regular check-ups, which can lead to early detection of the disease.
Prevention is more desirable than having to undergo treatment and the government should offer free regular checks for women.
Uenyi Chow, Tseung Kwan O
 
Protest saga has turned into a farce
The protests have shown up the Occupy Central and anti-Occupy demonstrators.
Also, we have had extremist legislators, who know only how to point accusing fingers, but not at themselves. And then there is the secretary for justice taking no action against lawbreakers.
What we are witnessing is farcical. Do any of the players in this farce recognise the significance of true democracy, which stands for public responsibility and justice?
Peter Wei, Kwun Tong
 
NPC election model could work out
Looking for a way out of the mess which is Hong Kong's electoral reform, I have come to the realisation that the 50 per cent threshold set by the National People's Congress Standing Committee decision may not be a bad thing, provided the playing field is level.
The nominating committee would have to be formed in accordance with the Basic Law, that is, it is genuinely "broadly representative" of Hong Kong people and not stuffed with puppets. Then any Communist Party member or surrogate seeking nomination would have to fight for votes on an equal footing with other parties.
So there would be one further reason for the protests not to continue.
Lawrence Cheung, Mid-Levels
 
Hongkongers must back police officers
Despite an isolated incident of alleged assault, I think most Hong Kong citizens will agree that our police force has been very professional and acted according to the law.
It is one of the best forces in the world. In contrast, look at the acts of brutality by officers abroad, even in countries like the United States.
Our police officers need our support and encouragement at this difficult time.
Joseph Lee, Pok Fu Lam
 
Have weekend car-ban zones in busy town
Sai Kung has recently had a large international school built within a couple of minutes' walk from the town.
We are soon to see two other large developments come into operation - a luxury housing complex and a hotel. I believe both will be more than seven stories high and will be a few minutes' walking distance from the town.
These complexes will have car parks, which means that Sai Kung will soon be even more crowded with cars, especially at weekends. And I don't care what anyone says, or claims, the simple fact is that Sai Kung is regularly choked with private vehicles, and the police either turn a blind eye, or they find something more interesting to do deep in the country park, thus avoiding any confrontation with car owners.
We should follow Singapore's example and pedestrianise certain areas at weekends. While we're at it let's go crazy and deploy a couple of traffic wardens, I'm sure we have them here.
This is something that, once it has proved to be successful, could lead to other towns adopting the same scheme.
There are areas in Sai Kung that do not allow vehicles in at any time and the small and medium-sized enterprises operating there are thriving.
People like to have their meals away from areas where cars sit, engines running, horns blaring. The priority here is for cars, not pedestrians, but that could easily be reversed.
Andrew Maxwell, Sai Kung
 
Thai military shows it is keen to listen
Concern has been expressed in the international community about the frequent changes in government in Thailand.
Since the military seized power in May, although society remains fragmented, new measures have been implemented to strengthen human rights and improve people's livelihood. I am a student at an international school in Hong Kong and visited the village of Mitmuanchon, in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, two months ago.
Through a translator I interviewed a military official who was holding a government-villagers meeting. She talked about government measures to achieve political stability. It was clear that villagers living in remote areas of the country were being given the opportunity to voice their opinions towards government policies.
I know that some countries issued travel warnings to its citizens for Thailand, because of the political unrest and the coup, but the situation can be looked at from another perspective.
The villagers told me that their lives in the northern part of the country had not been affected by the unrest. It appears to me that tourists have continued with their travel plans. Anyone considering cancelling holidays in Thailand should think carefully before doing so. The tourism sector brings jobs and economic benefits to many people.
From my experiences in Mitmuanchon, the military communicates very well with citizens. I hope this is an indication that political instability in Thailand could end.
Daisy Chan Wai-ka, Kowloon Tong
 
All workers entitled to basic benefits
Last month it was reported that street cleaners on low pay were being deprived of the most basic employment benefits because of the government's policy of outsourcing cleaning services.
I find it difficult to believe that this is happening to these people. Every job should have the provision of even rudimentary employment benefits.
In the report ("Contracts deprive cleaners of benefits", September 21), a cleaner said that she had been refused sick leave, even though she had a doctor's certificate and had not taken a day's sick leave for years.
I find this very disappointing. These hard-working people should be entitled to take sick leave when they need it. She had also never had eight days of annual leave, as her contracts never lasted more than two years.
It is clear from the story of this cleaner that the law needs to be changed to give better protection to vulnerable groups of workers. Also, the government has to review its subcontracting policies.
Because of inflation, more Hongkongers in work are joining the ranks of the low-paid.
Conditions for these people are hard and the government has a duty to protect their basic employment benefits so the quality of their lives is improved.
Scott Lam, Tseung Kwan O
 
Doubts over school exit examinations
I refer to the letter by Sandy Li Pui-shan ("Exam system is stifling creativity", October 13), pointing out that the emphasis on test performance (specifically the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education) is discouraging creativity and limiting career choices.
The results of studies done in the US using similar examinations given at the end of secondary school might be of interest.
American studies show that secondary school exit examination scores are not related to more university attendance, increased student learning or higher employment.
In fact, researchers have yet to discover any benefits of having a secondary school exit examination.
The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) claims to measure the potential for university success, but it is no more effective than secondary school grades in predicting first year university grades.
Even combining the two provides, at best, only about one-third of the information needed to predict first year university grades accurately.
Grades alone provide about 25 per cent of the information needed.
Stephen Krashen, professor emeritus, University of Southern California, US


Letters to the Editor, October 20, 2014

People like to have meals away from cars. Photo: Dickson Lee

In the pink: where to join the campaign against breast cancer

The Peninsula will be lit in pink again for the month-long promotion.

Participants in the 2011 Pink Walk for Breast Health. Photo: Edward Wong

Hong Kong's street cleaners being deprived of basic employment benefits

Fok Mei-sung has been a street cleaner for 12 years. But when she applied for her first sick leave she had few rights as her contracts had always been short-term. Photo: Felix Wong

Letters to the Editor, October 13, 2014

The tragic consequences of poaching. Photo: AFP

Opinion

I refer to the report ("In the pink: where to join the campaign against breast cancer", October 10). Breast cancer is the number one cancer among women in Hong Kong affecting citizens of all ages.
