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Letters

Politics forms integral part of liberal studies
Some politicians have claimed there is a link between students being involved in the Occupy protests and the teaching of liberal studies in Hong Kong schools.
Therefore, there have been calls for the political content of the subject to be trimmed. However, I would ask if this is really a practical proposal.
Putting aside the discussion on the benefits or disadvantages of civil disobedience, cutting politics-related material from the subject is not necessary and it is unworkable.
Students are not being taught to take a particular political stand in liberal studies classes. The emphasis is on developing critical thinking and analytical skills.
Also, the subject comprises six units - personal development and interpersonal relationships, Hong Kong today, modern China, globalisation, public health, energy technology and the environment.
All these modules are related to politics. Therefore, it does not make sense to propose trimming the politically related content in order to solve what is perceived by some to be a problem.
Secondary school students see liberal studies as a subject that provides them with unbiased and factual information.
Gillian Yip, Sha Tin
 
Putin behaved like a perfect gentleman
I refer to the report ("Putin's gallantry raises censors' eyebrows", November 12) about Russian President Vladimir Putin's kind gesture at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
He offered a shawl to the wife of President Xi Jinping because she was clearly cold and he was demonised by the Western media.
A simple, kind and gentlemanly gesture has been twisted by the press. If United States President Barack Obama had done the same thing he would have been praised, like any gentleman, for his gallantry. Putin deserves better press coverage.
It is ironic that this demonisation of Putin by Western countries will only make him look better.
It says more about the hypocrisy of the Western media than it does about Putin's character.
Marie Chang, Repulse Bay
 
Hong Kong must not lose unique shops
Many of Hong Kong' traditional small shops are being replaced by large chain stores.
The small enterprises face the same problem as citizens in rented apartments: they cannot afford to pay skyrocketing rents.
You see traditional food stalls, dai pai dong, being forced to close down, especially in areas such as Central and Sheung Wan.
Large chain stores end up monopolising the market.
More large shopping malls are opened full of international brand shops.
Overall, they may help the economy, but the small, traditional stores, which are part of our culture, gradually disappear.
All that is unique in Hong Kong's retail sector goes and you are left with shops that look identical.
Our restaurants face the same problem. But tourists want to go to unique eateries and enjoy traditional Hong Kong cuisine.
If these traditional restaurants disappear, Hong Kong will not be as attractive and the tourism industry will suffer. These businesses also contribute to the social cohesion of Hong Kong.
The government should not just be looking at overall economic growth.
It has to come up with a strategy to deal with this problem, offering low rates in designated areas to assist these small and unique enterprises and enable them to survive.
Eleanor Lui Lok-ching, Lai Chi Kok
 
Taiwan has joined fight against Ebola
As the Ebola outbreak continues to ravage parts of West Africa, Taiwan is stepping up preparatory measures to protect its citizens while partnering the global community to mount an effective response.
Taiwan is densely populated, with a significant amount of international passenger traffic. When the World Health Organisation declared the current Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on August 8, we immediately established a task force for Ebola virus disease response to monitor the latest developments and reinforce the implementation of Ebola prevention measures.
Taiwan also has a number of heightened border measures that were instituted during the post-Sars period, including fever screening checkpoints at all ports of entry.
The six Ebola-designated hospitals around Taiwan have been instructed to ensure that all frontline healthcare workers are properly trained in the donning, wearing and doffing of personal protective equipment.
Given the complexity behind the emergence and transmission of the Ebola virus, we must halt the spread of the disease at its source. So it is important we work with our global partners and do more to support West Africa.
Taiwan is ready and willing to participate in international and humanitarian aid efforts for affected countries.
President Ma Ying-jeou has pledged to provide 100,000 sets of protective clothing, donate US$1 million in cash, and dispatch a team of medical experts to affected areas in West Africa.
Furthermore, elevated international cooperation is urgently needed to keep the disease from crossing borders. Taiwan looks forward to working with the international community in stopping Ebola and other emerging infectious diseases.
Dr Steve H.S. Kuo, director-general, Centres for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, R.O.C.
 
Label food so we can make green choices
Virtually all the food we eat in Hong Kong is imported.
When it is transported by sea, air or land, it generates a lot of carbon emissions and what I would call food miles. This affects the environment.
Meat, especially beef and lamb, has much higher levels of carbon emissions than vegetables.
A large amount of land is needed for livestock, which means felling trees and deforestation. Cattle also contribute to the generation of greenhouse gases.
We can all help to make a difference, for example, by trying to buy seasonal food which is locally-produced.
I would also like to see legislation that would force food companies to put a carbon-emission label on their products. This would enable shoppers to choose lower carbon-emission-producing food.
Angel Yeung Sze-nga, Kowloon Tong
 
Most citizens are under a lot of pressure
Hong Kong is a fast-paced global city and citizens, especially girls, seem to always be in a rush. If you see people walking slowly in the street they are probably tourists.
Recent research has shown that Hongkongers are increasingly overworked and under too much stress. Therefore, people must try to make adjustments and change what can be changed.
Some workers are under stress because Hong Kong is so heavily dependent on tourism. This means shopping malls and restaurants are open until late and at weekends so staff face long hours. People often work overtime with no extra pay.
The government needs to look at this problem and see how it can be addressed.
Stress in Hong Kong does not come only from long working hours. People also face high rents and other expenses and this places a real burden on people on low incomes. Some of them might take out high-interest loans.
The government could help here with more education, trying to help poor citizens appreciate the virtues of sensible spending.
There also needs to be a change of attitude by Hongkongers. Many work so hard that they have little time to spend with their families. This is the kind of frenetic lifestyle that leaves them exhausted and often dissatisfied with their lot.
In fact we have a lot of public spaces and communal facilities and the outlying islands to enable us to relax.
We need to learn to relax and spend more time with our families.
Yang Min, Sha Tin
 
Long hours at work can hurt families
With Hong Kong businesses being part of the global economy, employees are under pressure to work a lot harder.
As their workload increases they have less time to spend with the family.
If parents are working long hours the relationships with their children can suffer.
Parents do not know what is happening in their children's lives, what their interests and hobbies are and how they feel about different things.
This lack of communication can create a barrier.
People need to recognise that this can happen and try to strike the right balance between their working and their family lives. They need to take control of their working schedules and spend more time with their children.
Employers can implement more family-friendly policies and lighten the workload for employees so that they can spend more time with their children.
This will enable them to have a better relationship with their sons and daughters.
Edwin Tong, Tseung Kwan O


Letters to the Editor, November 20, 2014

Vladimir Putin puts a shawl on Peng Liyuan. Photo: AP

Vladimir Putin's gallantry raises Chinese censors' eyebrows

Vladimir Putin puts a blanket around Peng Liyuan. Photo: AP

Vladimir Putin puts a blanket around Peng Liyuan.Photo: Reuters

Opinion

Some politicians have claimed there is a link between students being involved in the Occupy protests and the teaching of liberal studies in Hong Kong schools.


Letters to the Editor, November 20, 2014

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Some politicians have claimed there is a link between students being involved in the Occupy protests and the teaching of liberal studies in Hong Kong schools.

Some politicians have claimed there is a link between students being involved in the Occupy protests and the teaching of liberal studies in Hong Kong schools.