If this reform is to be successful, it will be necessary to undertake re-education of the masses regarding basic medical care principles (care-seeking behavioural patterns, use of medication, the responsibilities of the patient and the doctor) and the inefficiencies of 'doctor shopping'.

Genevieve Heng, Happy Valley

If we did not coin the word 'doctor shopping', we certainly are still practising it in a very wasteful manner. It is almost a culture and deeply ingrained among Hong Kong people, and the Hospital Authority and the Department of Health will have to educate the public through extensive campaigns. The power of the media has been greatly overlooked in the Hong Kong health-care scene and it is high time we mobilised this resource.

Dr Samuel Lin, Tai Po

Hong Kong people like doctor shopping because there is unavoidable variation in doctor experience and ability. Although almost all of them are graduated from the University of Hong Kong or Chinese University, it is not appropriate to assume that they are of the same standard. Besides, those who graduated with top honours doesn't mean they treat patients well or vice versa. The government should not restrict people of their right to choose their preferred doctor.

Name and address supplied

Q Should doctors accept the compensation package?

Having been exploited by the Hospital Authority for so many years, the doctors finally get back their overtime salary in the compensation, which they deserve to have in recognition of their dedicated service to thousands of public hospital patients.

The doctors sacrifice time and effort for the benefits of patients in need. Their attitude keeps Hong Kong's public medical care at an exceptionally high standard at a low cost, compared with western countries. However, while those exhausted doctors are working desperately for the patients, the executives enjoy millions of dollars in bonuses. Is this fair?

Without those professional and committed medical staff, the public medical system will break down and the poor suffer, no matter how good the management. The senior executives should not reap most of the revenue but share it with the medical staff to boost morale. I absolutely agree that the doctors should get the compensation package, if not earlier and more.

Michael Leung Chung-hong, Shamshuipo

Q Should transsexuals be protected from discrimination?

Of course they should be protected. Their beliefs or actions don't harm others. All people should have protection against discrimination, except, of course, those who infringe on others' rights: child molesters, rapists, domestic abusers.

Natalie Yuen, Mid-Levels

Q Is enough being done to guarantee food safety?

Guangdong province's land, water, and air suffer serious environmental attacks - acid rain, heavy-metal-bearing smoke from burning coal, overuse of pesticides and its associated drift, harmful industrial discharges into waterways, and even use of medical waste for fertiliser.

Because Hong Kong gets at least 80 per cent of its vegetables from mainland farms (Post, April 4), it is difficult to know how to avoid polluted produce. Today, the extent of serious air pollution, the polluted water used for crop irrigation, coupled with the poorly controlled use of agricultural chemicals, adversely affect the region's production of pollution-free foods. Even in late 2003, farmers still used medical waste as inexpensive fertiliser for lychees and longans.

China instituted its Green Food initiative in the early 1990s to help assure pollution-free food. Much of the production, however, allows the use of agricultural chemicals and pesticides, and reliable third-party certification is weak.

Some infer that green food and 'organic agriculture' are synonymous, but they are not. To qualify a crop as organic, a third party must certify that pesticides and commercial fertilisers were not used in its production.

Hong Kong might take the lead to address these agro-ecological problems by convening an agro-ecology policy meeting. It could include officials from the Green Food initiative in Guangdong, representatives from the International Federation of Organic Movements, a representative of mainland farm producers, and other stakeholders.

Premier Wen Jiabao (Post, April 19) stated in substance that China must change to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic growth, with water and air pollution as top priorities.

He said: 'Environmental protection has become the weakest aspect in social and economic development.' Perhaps the timing is right.

Walter Parham, Virginia

The recent panic about the presence of pesticides polluting our fruit and vegetables from the mainland surely cannot come as a surprise to our big brothers in government.

The agriculturist Bruce Derrick has been working on this for years and urging government to make arrangements for the growing of uninfected organic vegetables in Hong Kong.

As usual, government has turned a deaf ear to his entreaties.

Anyone who proposes a project utilising land for anything other than money-making property development doesn't have a hope in hell!

Meanwhile, we are all slowly being poisoned as Nero fiddles and stubbornly persists in his plans for a white elephant. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

We are talking about decent food for the population. Is there possibly a social conscience in Hong Kong, or are politics and vested interests at the head of a long queue of vital other interests?

Money is not edible; even Midas with his golden touch learned his lesson.

Ted Thomas, Central

On other matters ...

While arrangements to allow civil servants to work a five-day week have been passed in just a few months, legislation banning idling engines has yet to be put to the Legislative Council.

As even the Liberal Party has declared itself to be in favour of such legislation, there would be no obstacles to quick passage of the bill and early enforcement.

Could it be that the percentage of car-owning civil servants is greater than that of the general public? How much longer must our children choke on our streets while selfish drivers make long telephone calls, read magazines, play Gameboy or take naps in air-conditioned comfort?

What are our legislators doing to protect the health of their constituents? Clean air is a priority for all responsible parents and action should be taken before the school holidays commence.

Swift action was taken on farmyard poultry, so there is no reason why idling engines should not be banned with the same urgency.

Andy Yau, Wan Chai