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Letters

Losing 'one country' and 'two systems'
I was dismayed to learn that the central government has warned British MPs from the Foreign Affairs Committee that they will be refused entry to Hong Kong if they attempt to come, as part of their inquiry into whether the 1984 Joint Declaration has been implemented.
As a signatory to the Joint Declaration, the UK maintains a special interest in Hong Kong and the success of "one country, two systems".
I would suggest, with many Occupy Central supporters finding that their home permits for travel on the mainland have been revoked, we are no longer "one country". Also, with the mainland authorities meddling in immigration issues (which are a devolved matter for Hong Kong) by banning the MPs, we also do not have "two systems".
I suspect Beijing wants to quash the inquiry because it knows it has not adhered to the agreements made in the Joint Declaration.
The central government has repeatedly bemoaned foreign interference in Hong Kong since the protests began, yet it is now interfering well beyond its remit. Surely, if it has nothing to hide, there is no reason to block the MPs coming as part of their inquiry.
This action is not in the spirit of the Joint Declaration, and does not bode well for Hong Kong's freedoms in the future.
C. Wong, North Point
 
Activists eager to talk about Occupy
I refer to Alice Wu's column ("Hong Kong is paying the price of protest", December 1).
Her comments about the need for "engagement and dialogue" to achieve electoral reform are spot on. But her description of the Occupy/umbrella movement and its encampments as "built on isolation and exclusion . . . closed-off islands, with barricades to disengage from the rest of society" is completely inaccurate.
I have visited the various Occupy locations many times. It has always been easy to enter them, except when blocked by police, and their occupants have been consistently open and eager to discuss why they are there and what they are doing.
When we have disagreed, it has been civil and thoughtful.
So, either Ms Wu has not visited these sites and sincerely tried to engage and have a dialogue with the participants, or she is intentionally promoting the current government's storyline.
It is unfortunate that so many of Hong Kong's privileged elite, especially those like Ms Wu who have had the opportunity to live and study in foreign democracies, have been so dismissive for so long, longer than the current Occupy or umbrella movements have existed, of Hongkongers who want more than a pretend voice in choosing their government.
It is those in power, not the Occupy/umbrella movement, who have done the most, using Ms Wu's words, to "set back Hong Kong's political development".
Dante Archangeli, Pok Fu Lam
 
Waste levy can make a real difference
Hong Kong's long-term waste problems will not be tackled by the government's proposal to expand our existing landfills and build an incinerator.
Even with extensions, the landfills will still eventually reach saturation point. And the proposal for an incinerator has proved to be controversial, with many people opposed to it.
The best way to deal with the city's refuse problems is to reduce waste at source and I think there are feasible measures the government could adopt and which could apply to the whole of Hong Kong.
A waste tax or charge has been successfully implemented throughout Taipei. I do not agree with those who oppose such a charging scheme. It is an effective way to offer an incentive to households to reduce the volume of waste that they generate. The revenue from the levy can help with waste disposal costs and the recycling sector.
There must be a scale of monetary rewards for those people in the city who collect recyclable material. Households which also recycle more would face a lower waste charge. I am sure citizens would welcome such a policy.
Also, more food that is not used by restaurants, but is still fit to eat, should be collected and distributed to street sleepers. This is another way to reduce waste and it helps the underprivileged. Some eateries may say it could hurt business, with people waiting until they close for the night to get free food, but we are only talking about helping destitute people who are not likely to be paying customers at restaurants.
Any measures implemented by the government will not be much help unless there is a change of attitude on the part of Hongkongers when it comes to waste disposal.
Mok Sze-lam, Kowloon Tong
 
Loss of older staff could hurt government
I am in strong agreement with the proposal to raise the retirement age of 60 for newly hired civil servants and I hope this policy can be implemented as soon as next year.
Many people are forced to retire at 60 in Hong Kong despite the fact that we face the problems associated with an ageing population.
Many of these individuals are capable of continuing to work.
However, they are not able to do so and we therefore have a shrinking workforce.
Extending the retirement age will mean that experienced employees can keep working and their skills are not lost for good. In the civil service, new recruits cannot make up for the skills and experience that are lost through forced retirement. This can lead to greater inefficiency in government and a heavier workload for staff.
Also, the government can act as a role model for the private sector.
If it raises the retirement age, many companies may follow suit and this could help ease the demand for skilled workers.
Opponents of this proposal say it would be an obstacle to the promotion prospects of younger civil servants. But I am only suggesting a five-year extension beyond the age of 60 and I do not think it would stop younger staff from moving up the career ladder.
Junior employees who have genuine talent should be able to advance even if some civil servants keep on working a bit longer.
Most importantly, I do not want to see experienced employees, who are still healthy and who can be productive workers and make a contribution to society, being wasted.
We should show them some respect and let them decide whether they want to work for longer.
I also believe that if this policy is implemented, it should be applicable to existing civil servants as well as new recruits.
Fion Sy Hoi-ki, Yau Yat Chuen
 
Improve image by reducing shark fin sales
It has been a tradition at wedding banquets in Hong Kong for shark's fin soup to be on the menu.
This is one of the reasons why this city is at the centre of the global trade in shark fins.
For the sake of conservation, environmentalists want restaurants to stop serving this dish.
According to the WWF, around 73 million sharks are killed each year to supply the trade, and several species are becoming endangered.
We must pay more attention in Hong Kong to the protection of wildlife and present a more positive image. For example, the proposed third runway at the airport has attracted international attention, because of the threat it poses to the Chinese white dolphin and this has hurt our reputation.
Cutting back on the trade in shark fin products is one way of showing we care about animal conservation.
Yannis Mak, Tai Wai


Letters to the Editor, December 3, 2014

It is easy for people to enter Occupy sites. Photo: Bloomberg

Hong Kong is paying the price of protest

Only time will tell how much wiping out the little trust we had within the community, and between Hong Kong and Beijing, will cost this city. Photo: Reuters

Opinion

I was dismayed to learn that the central government has warned British MPs from the Foreign Affairs Committee that they will be refused entry to Hong Kong if they attempt to come.
