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Letters

Punishment fully deserved for plagiarism
There is a debate about whether the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) should invalidate the scores of secondary students who plagiarise material for use in school projects.
I believe the HKEAA's aim is not to increase the already heavy academic burden on students but to reinforce and legitimise the learning experience in completing a project.
I think the independent inquiry study and school-based assessment enrich my knowledge of study subjects. I find the whole research process interesting and rewarding.
The most important part is that, after collecting all the data form different sources, I have to evaluate and select the content I need for my project. This is vastly different to a simple copy-and-paste job, as it requires thorough reading, understanding and careful judgment to choose the right information. People who thoughtlessly plagiarise destroy the purpose of their study. They are wasting a great chance to learn.
Plagiarism is unfair to students who apply their greatest efforts to their projects. Copying professionally written work found on the internet not only saves time and effort but might unfairly produce better marks if the plagiarism goes unnoticed.
Invalidating the marks of those who copy the work of others without making any effort will act as a deterrent to others plagiarising, so I am totally in agreement with it.
Jennifer Chiu Lok-yu, Sha Tin
 
Ill-fitting and out of place in HK culture
If ever a garment was made specifically to subjugate women, it is surely the full paraphernalia of the burqa, the garb demanded by some Islamic men of their womenfolk.
What kind of insecurity drives men to demand this imposition on their womenfolk? How would they like the near suffocation of this garment on a hot summer's day? I would ask them to put a towel over their heads for a couple of hours and see how they like it.
What kind of a man strolls forth clad in light, comfortable clothes while beside him struggles one or more of his wives smothered head to toe in the outfit demanded by religious custom?
Of course, what people do in their own countries is their affair, but they should not think they can bring this outmoded behaviour to other countries.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do," an old saying goes. It is one thing to emigrate to a foreign country, but don't forget it was your idea to come in the first place. You will be most welcome to come if you are prepared to adapt and fit in. This seems fair to me.
When my husband and I went to Bangladesh for two years long ago, I was advised to cover my arms and legs. So a suitable tunic was purchased to cover the top, and trousers for the legs. In extremis, I wore a scarf over my head. That way I could wander about freely without fear of offending the Bangladeshis. Of course, I would rather have worn a pretty dress but such is life. I was in a foreign country and it was just common courtesy not to offend.
So let those men think again and break loose from medieval times to join the rest of us in the here and now. Their wives will be a lot happier, and therefore so should the men themselves.
Helen Heron, Sai Kung
 
Speaking up for silence above hubbub
The excessive use of horns by motor vehicle drivers is a constant source of nuisance and of noise pollution on Hong Kong's roads.
Horns are supposedly used to alert other drivers, pedestrians and other road users in case of emergency. However, it appears that they are being abused to such an extent that drivers usually use them to vent their anger and frustration. Such use is unwarranted and it generates a lot of noise.
Adequate training should be put in place by the government to educate drivers on exercising courtesy when driving.
If necessary, the government should consider proposing laws and policies to define under which circumstances horns may be used by drivers and to impose statutory fines on contravention.
Admittedly, education and prevention rather than laws and punishment should be the primary means of regulating citizens' behaviour. However, when education proves ineffective, then laws should be enacted and implemented where necessary - in the case, to ban the present abusive and excessive use of horns.
This will make our city a better and quieter place.
Michael Ko, Sham Shui Po
 
Don't trash the small guy for big business
The government has announced its intention to impose a refuse disposal surcharge on struggling households in Hong Kong, while also revealing plans for an HK$11.7 billion compensation package for businesses upgrading to newer, cleaner vehicles.
This is just another case of government giving in to big business lobbies at the expense of the unrepresented majority.
Individual consumers have limited control over the amount of food packaging they take home, which accounts for the bulk of household refuse.
At the same time, for the vast majority, low earnings and rising costs, especially for food, have stretched household budgets and eroded people's overall quality of life.
Most shop-bought items come prepackaged, so if the government wants to reduce waste it should regulate manufacturers and retailers to use less packaging. Targeting individual consumers for this waste is wrong, ineffective, and grossly unfair to low-wage earners.
At the same time, HK$11.7 billion in subsidies is proposed for businesses to upgrade vehicle fleets to cleaner, more fuel efficient models.
Why are households not being given similar cash incentives to reduce waste? Why not impose the financial penalties on those with polluting vehicles? Vehicles age fast and need replacing regularly, so why reward polluters by subsidising their purchase of a more fuel-efficient replacement that they would need to get anyway?
There should be a strict deadline for replacing polluting vehicles - or face a stiff penalty.
Meanwhile, households should be allowed to have collected without charge an amount of waste proportionate to household numbers. Beyond this a surcharge may be imposed to discourage abusers. This would be fair and help low-income families.
It seems the folk running our city lack the political courage to do the right thing. They succumb to business pressure easily at the expense of the welfare of the weak and silent majority.
Thomas Chow, Sha Tin
 
'Biased' flat rebates favour outsiders
It has been reported that property developers are offering rebates to foreign and company buyers.
The rebates (around 12 per cent) are intended to offset the higher (15 per cent) stamp study that such buyers must pay.
The net result is that developers are selling flats at cheaper prices to such buyers than they are to Hong Kong permanent residents, and thus blatantly discriminating against local buyers.
The practice also circumvents the measures introduced by the government to cool the property market. Why does the government tolerate such a practice?
The Consumer Council should get involved and tell developers that this blatant discrimination against local buyers is not acceptable.
P. K. Lee, Tung Chung


Letters to the Editor, October 27, 2013

The burqa, all-concealing and "stifling". Photo: Reuters

Opinion

There is a debate about whether the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) should invalidate the scores of secondary students who plagiarise material for use in school projects.
