Proposals to fight against risk of cancer In recent years, not only have NGOs become concerned about the spread of cancer in Hong Kong, but the government has also launched awareness campaigns. However, this is just the starting point of what will have to be a long-drawn-out struggle to change the unhealthy lifestyles of so many Hongkongers. When you see so many people eating junk food and few people exercising, it is not difficult to realise that many citizens are exposing themselves to greater risk of getting cancer. The ratios of obese people and those not doing enough physical activity are higher than in many other places. And these bad habits are becoming even more deep-rooted. The government should come up with more new initiatives to address citizens' unhealthy lifestyles. I propose that all schools must have at least two hours of physical education classes per week. Companies Companies providing lunchboxes to schools should have to ensure the food inside them is healthy so the students are less likely to eat junk food. Obese people should be offered discounts to encourage them to use sports facilities more. These measures can help Hongkongers to live healthier lives and reduce their risk of getting cancer. Tracy So, Yau Tong White dolphin needs help for tourism's sake Watching dolphins has become a popular activity for Hongkongers and tourists. It even gets a mention the Tourism Board's website. Hundreds, if not thousands, of dolphin watchers are shipped to Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau every day to see the unique and endangered Chinese white dolphins of Hong Kong. Tour organisers are certainly happy to see a lot of customers, but what about the dolphins? To please the customers, the captains often sail near or after the dolphins. Some watchers scream with excitement. But people also throw rubbish into the sea, and combined with the petrol leaking from boat engines, the water inevitably becomes polluted, and the dolphins are the first to feel the effects. Boat propellers pose another risk, as there are occasional reports of dolphins harmed by the spinning blades. In a bid to strike a balance between tourism and protecting the white dolphin, authorities should license these dolphin-watching organisers. This way, the number of the cruises can be limited. Penalties should also be established for sailing too close to the creatures. If the white dolphins are the geese that lay the golden eggs, it's unwise to leave them unprotected. Oscar Ko, Tseung Kwan O Ruling over Ramadan just inhumane I wrote last year to complain about authorities in Xinjiang telling Communist Party members, civil servants, students and teachers not to observe Ramadan. It saddens not only me but also fellow Muslims across the world that the government is still behaving so inhumanely towards the Muslim minority. President Xi Jinping recently visited Pakistan to invest US$46 billion in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. But the sanction imposed again this year regarding observing Ramadan will affect relations between the two nations and could cause long-term damage. Ramadan is not some kind of traditional, cultural festival. It is one of the five most important pillars of Islam. Fasting is specifically prescribed by Allah in the Koran. Beginning with the new moon, Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking and other sensual pleasures from dawn to sunset. But it is also a time of joy, as Muslims break their fast at sunset with a special meal. Then when this month of fasting ends, there are three days of celebration, which includes a time for family reunions, like Lunar New Year. It is significant to all Muslims, including those from Xinjiang. China has good relations with Muslim countries, but it has taken exactly the same duplicitous approach as the US and the EU have towards Middle Eastern countries. What China needs to understand is that Muslims don't care about nationality; they are united in their religion, and the central government's ban on observing Ramadan in Xinjiang is an affront to the Muslims there. Ramadan will end at sunset on July 17. As a Hong Kong citizen, I am free to perform my religious rituals, and it saddens me to see my Muslim brothers in Xinjiang in such a circumstance because it is a basic human right. The leaders of Muslim countries should pressure Beijing to lift the ban immediately. Zohaib Malik, Tin Shui Wai Backing call to raise first registration tax The Transport Advisory Committee has recommended a number of measures it thinks can ease Hong Kong's serious road congestion. Traffic congestion is a severe problem in Hong Kong, especially during peak hours, when serious bottlenecks are common at many locations around the city. For those of us who have to travel these routes to and from work, this congestion is part of our everyday lives. Apart from being an inconvenience, these choked roads are bad for the environment because of serious pollution. Among its proposals, the committee has suggested increasing the first registration tax and the annual licence fee and launching an electronic road pricing scheme. I think the first proposal is a good one. Having an increase in first registration tax can definitely lower the demand for cars. And if some people have put off buying a car, then they probably wouldn't buy one now; they would continue to use public transport. However, this strategy must be accompanied by an improvement in public transport service. Then citizens will see the logic of using it instead of having a car. Increasing the annual licence fee would be less effective as it is unlikely to persuade motorists to get rid of a car they have already purchased. The electronic road pricing scheme wouldn't work, either. It would be expensive to monitor, and it would only bring the pollution and congestion to the districts that don't implement the scheme. Sharon Liu Tsz-ying, Sham Shui Po Negative effect of working long hours Working overtime upsets the balance between work and rest. A company's stated working hours may be from 9am to 6pm, but some employees don't leave until 11pm or even midnight. Some bosses believe the more successful the company is, the later the staff should stay. Working long hours has a lot of negative effects. People doze off, which is unacceptable during internal meetings, and even worse during external meetings with clients because of the effect on the company's reputation. If an employee can't finish their work during office hours, they should be allowed to take it home. At least then they can finish up while being with their family. It all comes down to knowing how to allocate your time. Ng Hoi-lam, Yau Yat Chuen
