Ironically, Hong Kong's laissez-faire economics demand inevitable structural adjustments, but fears such adjustment in the population.

Eternal growth is a myth and competition arguments offer no advantage here. Serious legislation is required to reduce consumption but will be opposed by government and industry, which dread limits on opportunities for new capital.

Until the universal American Dream is seen for the illusion it is, our only hope is to shrink the population, hopefully in a controlled way.

RICHARD FIELDING, Pokfulam

Traps of nationalism

Referring to the article by Charles Hong ('Prepare HK for 2047', May 25) I do not agree it is logical to promote nationalism education. For this will surely lead to a devastating event if allowed.

The fresh images of mainland Chinese protesting in major cities of China still stunned us as to how much hatred lingered in the population, however the demonstrations were deemed perfectly acceptable. The smashing of Japanese properties revealed how much damage brainwashing has done to the public in China.

In Hong Kong, people marched peacefully to the Japanese embassy, a clear contrast. The uncivilised behaviour is the result of propaganda of the Chinese government. Who can we call angels when it comes to history anyway? China's cover up of the Tiananmen Square incident has as little truth as the Japanese textbooks.

The Cultural Revolution happened because of an ideal that brainwashed the population. Nationalism propaganda on television is a sign that nationalism education is tightening its jaw around Hong Kong people. Soon, any opinion that is not in favour of China will surely be branded heretical.

WAI LEE, Taikoo Shing

Sympathy for Corby

As I watched with my 10-year-old the trial of Schapelle Corby on ABC News, I found it heart-wrenching whether she was guilty or not. My son has always been interested in public affairs, but it surprised me how strongly he felt about this. He decided to write to [Australian Prime Minister] John Howard and the Post to express his views - those of an Australian lad just turned 10.

'Dear Prime Minister Mr John Howard, I would like to comment about the Schapelle Corby trial and sentencing. Mr Howard so many people are divided as to her guilt - even my mum and dad are.

This must make you think about reasonable doubt, with this element of reasonable doubt she should be freed.

What about the baggage handlers? They have a lot to answer for.

I am an Australian myself, so I am deeply sorry for Corby (and insulted). I hope you take this letter into consideration for I and the country that I was born in are deeply insulted by this trial.'

STEPHANIE AND JAMES ALEXANDER, The Peak

'Soft power' questioned

I refer to 'China's soft power' (May 26) by Kennedy Wong. I really do not understand what Mr Wong means by Beijing's soft power.

When Beijing announced the Anti-Secession Law, about 1 million Taiwanese people poured onto the streets protesting against it, people say it was a repeat of Hong Kong's July 1 protest. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Beijing the law was not helpful and created tension across the strait. The European Union, which originally agreed to lift arms sales to China, agreed to defer the decision. The law had put China in an awkward position.

Lien Chan's and James Soong Chu-yu's acceptance of President Hu Jintao's invitation to visit the mainland was really a blessing in disguise. It softened the negative elements of the Anti-Secession Law in the eyes of the world, and especially Taiwan. Mr Lien and Mr Soong were rewarded with a red-carpet reception, though neither of them could represent the government in Taiwan. China's other concessions in terms of agriculture products, ease of travel restriction etcetera, were peripheral, nothing substantial.

Therefore it was not without reason that Taiwan viewed their visits a failure. Beijing had not promised to withdraw any missiles, revoke the Anti-Secession Law, or the 60-year policy to isolate and oppose Taiwan from participation in any international bodies.

MAURUS SEET, Kowloon

Welfare-state of mind

We have seen lately a lot of fuss about the increase of Chinese textile exports to the US and the EU. Both are demanding restrictions on the exports by China or face quotas, as we had in the past. Both are also demanding a revaluation of the yuan as the present value gives China an unfair advantage. Looking at the European point of view I doubt that a revaluation of the yuan will have much effect.

Reintroducing quotas will only result in Chinese goods being shipped under either Korean, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, Malaysian or Singaporean certificate of origin as has happened in the past.

The problem with the Europeans is that in general they are a lazy bunch, too dependent on their social welfare system. This results in various governments taxing companies into bankruptcy. Europe should look therefore inward at its own systems and plan a major overhaul where anyone who is not willing to take up a job provided to them by the labour bureau loses his or her right to any social welfare benefits at all.

So Europe stop whining, get your lazy butt out of the chair and start working for at least 40 hours a week or sink like the Titanic.

JEFFRY KUPERUS, Clear Water Bay

Young need our support

It really gets on my nerves every time I hear someone uttering how incompetent and unqualified Hong Kong youngsters are nowadays. They try to prove their argument with generalisations denying youngsters have the potential required to succeed in the increasingly competitive business world, because they are simply incapable and they lack the correct attitude to work.

Compared with the talent coming in from the mainland, it is predicted they will be left behind sooner or later.

True, Hong Kong youngsters are under threat. Our mainland counterparts study much harder and excel in almost every field of study, even in the English language. Moreover, they are willing to work for a fraction of the pay that Hong Kong graduates are getting.

However, the common assumption that youngsters in Hong Kong are all incompetent is malicious and fatal to the future of Hong Kong. This facile comment is counterproductive in the sense that it serves only to discourage youngsters in pursuit of their future careers. It creates a negative picture of our younger generation: lazy, irresponsible, impatient, inconsiderate and self-centred. Rather than reassuring them and unearthing their potential, this stereotype snatches away opportunities they deserve.

ISAAC YEUNG, Mid-Levels

A cud to chew on

How ironic that in the same week the government unveils its first sustainable development strategy, the Post reports on a cull of the Lantau cow herd by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

The strategy mentions biodiversity and Hong Kong's socio-cultural heritage and quotes the Council for Sustainable Development's call to respect the natural environment and value its cultural heritage. Apparently no one bothered to tell the department. Or perhaps the department has analysed the environmental carrying capacity of Lantau and concluded that 70 cows are too many? Where can I read the report please?

It seems to me to be a sad comment on the application of the sustainable-development principles set out in the published strategy and a fine example of the deterioration in decision-making ability and commonsense that many people believe has affected our civil service over the past few years.

IAN DUBIN, Mid-Levels