Letters to the Editor, June 13, 2017
Calls to destroy antique ivory are misguided
We all want to protect the elephant and control the ivory trade.
However, some people are letting their love of animals push them to extremes. I attended a talk on the ivory trade by the Royal Geographical Society on June 5. When I tried to make the point that destroying ivory antiques does not save the lives of elephants today, I was shouted down and some people in the audience would not listen.
Campaigners against the ivory trade should be careful that they do not taint the worthwhile objects of their campaign by showing inflammatory pictures. These pictures stir emotions and demonise ivory so that people go to extremes and destroy all ivory including antique ivory, such as the beautiful carvings made by Chinese craftsmen in centuries past.
There is a danger that campaigners against the ivory trade may be looked back on by future generations as similar to the Taliban, whose fanaticism led to the destruction of the world’s biggest Buddhist statues in Afghanistan, and Islamic State, which has destroyed antiquities in Palmyra and other places.
Hopefully, the Hong Kong government will be able to implement laws that protect the elephant and preserve the antique ivory produced by past Chinese civilisations.
Chris Hall, The Peak
Help hawkers join new food truck scheme
Following criticism of the food truck pilot scheme and the limited options for the operators, the government added two locations in April, the Science Park at Sha Tin and AsiaWorld-Expo.
While this is positive, it does not go far enough and the rules governing how and where these trucks should operate have lacked flexibility.
It is expensive to get one of these trucks up and running. Of course, Hong has had its traditional street food culture for decades with the hawkers and they were very independent and did not rely on government help. But the government tried to phase them out by not issuing new licences. While I support the food truck pilot scheme, I think it needs some fine-tuning.
More locations should be available. Also, subsidies should be offered so that local hawkers can get involved and offer traditional Hong Kong street food, such as egg waffles and fishballs, at reasonable prices.
Officials cited hygiene concerns for trying to phase out street food stalls, but if hawkers were operating from these trucks, they would have to stick to the hygiene regulations.
Chow Ka-wing, Kwai Chung
Fashion firms not achieving real equality
Although the fashion industry targets women as consumers, it is still predominantly a man’s world.
Many leading brands were started by women but, often, the executives are men.
Women in the fashion industry are often forced to make a choice between a family life or their careers. They don’t always get the support that would help them do both.
These women are a real asset to companies, especially creatively. They can think and feel the same way as the women who buy these products from fashion labels. They know how to make something that not only looks good, but is wearable.
Female customers who feel that a company is not practising gender equality can make it known they will not buy any of that firm’s products. Stricter laws are needed across the board in all societies to ensure gender equality is recognised in the workplace.
The media should criticise stereotypes and call for women to be treated equally in the workplace. Mindsets won’t change overnight, but we must change outdated views on gender.
Wong Hoi-lam, Yau Yat Chuen
Rare for imams to criticise followers
How refreshing to read the lead letter from Muhammad Arshad, the chief imam of Hong Kong (“Terror attacks by deviant foot soldiers can never be justified”, June 9). It is very rare for the leading imams in any country to speak up for their errant followers and the more they do speak out, the more respect nonMuslims will have for the true believers.
Can Muhammad Arshad please tell his fellow imams to start to speak up very loud and very clear?
Anthony Kirk-Duncan, Lai Chi Kok
More senior Muslim clerics must speak out
I refer to the article by Siddiq Bazarwala (“Why must it fall to Muslims to decry terror?”, June 10).
The reason it must fall to Muslims to speak out is because those terror attacks were perpetrated by Muslim deviants who proclaim their acts in the name their god and their religion. These terrorists believe they enjoy eternal bliss in their heaven for killing, injuring and maiming innocent victims.
I am glad Bazarwala makes the point that many good Muslims have indeed condemned those senseless and barbaric attacks on civilians.
But, I believe a lot of peace-loving people throughout the civilised world hope to see more influential Muslim clerics and religious leaders doing so.
These leaders need to make it clear that the terrorists will not find a short cut to heaven through their deviant acts.
C. T. Teo, Ap Lei Chau
Shopping can make stress a lot worse
I agree with correspondents who say that shopping is not the best way to beat stress.
Many Hongkongers are under pressure, at school and in the workplace. Often, they do not find the right way to deal with it and some of them turn to excessive shopping, thinking it will help them relax.
However, they just end up spending a lot of money. Some clothes are never worn and are discarded. And if people spend money they do not have, they could end up in debt and this adds to their stress.
People should find positive ways to deal with stress. Children must be taught about how to cope with pressure.
Kitty Lui Sze-ki, Tseung Kwan O