Could harsh treatment in Hong Kong have been caused by something other than ‘incivility’?

I refer to the letter from Sampson Shen, “Civility lost to anti-mainland sentiment” (July 17). Maybe I was misled by the heading, but I was ready to read accounts of anti-mainland incidents that would raise my blood pressure.

I have to admit that, even after multiple readings, I cannot come to the same conclusion as the writer did in the tracing all of the incidents to the “sin” of speaking Mandarin. Did the writer see a Cantonese-speaking family experience the same problems but receive different treatment?

I am sorry, but I think civility starts with self-reflection.

Maybe some details are missing, but why would the child be crossing the MTR gate, the border even, by herself first? Wouldn’t she be under parental watch at all times, especially when surrounded by a massive wave of humanity?

Cantonese or Mandarin: how Hong Kong failed where Singapore succeeded

I am not saying that there is no bigotry against mainlanders among people in Hong Kong – there is, as bigotry exists everywhere in the world. Nor am I saying that the MTR/border officers are perfect. However, from the description provided, I cannot say that the discrimination cry is fully justified.

Tsze Chan, Falls Church, US