Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. The government is set to allow non-residents to fly into Hong Kong for the first time in two years, after previously halving the compulsory hotel quarantine for returning residents to seven days. This is an excellent announcement. But this city can no longer expect to be the top travel destination it was. Many countries such as Thailand, Japan and others in the West have been living with Covid-19, and no longer impose stringent pandemic measures. For any foreign visitor, these places are definitely more convenient and tourist-friendly. These destinations include our rival, Singapore , which has attracted entrepreneurs and company offices moving out of Hong Kong, an enormous loss in reputation and talent for us. Even with Hong Kong’s latest flight policy relaxation, Covid-19 restrictions remain, and people in the industry do not expect many tourists or businesspeople to visit. Still, I worry about whether the relaxation will trigger a sixth wave of infections. Let us not forget that the fifth wave started with just a few imported cases but quickly spread gloom and doom to all of us in the city. When will things return to normal and when can we ease all flight restrictions and do away with quarantine altogether? No one knows for now, but we should hope it happens as soon as possible. One small step is better than no progress at all. Although many of us and the Hong Kong government want to reopen borders with the mainland first, the reality is that reopening first to international travel is just much more feasible. Jack Chung, Sham Shui Po Red tape behind pool, beach closures? Several letters have questioned the logic behind the continued closure of public beaches and swimming pools, when the Omicron infection risk at these outdoor facilities appears minimal (“Lam must listen to science, not internet users”, March 31 , and “Show proof of beach and pool ‘dangers’”, April 20 ). May I venture that the real problem is bureaucratic, whereby the lifeguards and other officials concerned with the running of these facilities are “working from home” – in line with other civil servants. Charlie Chan, Mid-Levels Racial stereotypes not useful for anybody Your Sunday issue carried a report about a local TV programme which has caused an uproar: “Darker side of race relations in the city”. The unhappiness centred upon the age-old issue of racial stereotyping. Perhaps the drama was not intended to portray ethnic minorities – in this case our much-needed and most helpful domestic helpers – as inferior or only suited to a particular line of work. That it gave offence is material. But how and why has racial sensitivity remained an issue in our city so many years after the first domestic helpers arrived? Stereotyping goes back a long way. Sixty or more years ago, any Filipino in Hong Kong would have been assumed to be probably a musician, an Indian or Pakistani person would have been thought of as a guard or watchman, a Caucasian assumed to be unreasonable or a drunkard or overbearing, and Chinese from Shantung assumed to smell of garlic and be incomprehensible. Brownface perception gap: we need to talk about everyday racism Things don’t seem to have changed much. There is still insufficient understanding of the role and importance of those who have come to support, help with and share our tasks and burdens. Perhaps the almighty dollar has blinded us to the virtues, industry, tenacity and loyalty of those whom we engage to release us from mundane, unprofitable chores so that we could run a more successful race to a better life. Just because we pay them does not mean we are better, superior or a class above. Have we or dare we ask our domestic helpers or any member of the other ethnic minority groups how they might stereotype us? Equality might mean different things to different people but fairness is in everyone’s heart. Let’s be fair: do unto others as you would yourself. James A. Elms, Wan Chai
