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Letters

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words.
I refer to “Malaysia’s air quality turns hazardous as Indonesian wildfires burn” (August 31). Four areas in Malaysia’s Bornean state of Sarawak recorded hazardous air quality, with Air Pollutant Index readings above 300. Serian, closest to the frontier with Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, recorded a reading of 476.
That’s nearing the threshold of 500 for declaring an emergency. Are there remedies for victims of the man-made transboundary haze?
Little is known of a transboundary air pollution case brought before the International Court of Justice.
Ecuador sued Colombia in March 2008 for alleged aerial spraying of toxic herbicides at locations near, at and across the countries’ border. Ecuador contended that the spraying had caused serious damage to people, crops, animals and the natural environment on the Ecuadorian side and posed a grave risk of further damage over time. The spraying was allegedly carried out as part of Colombia’s plan to eradicate illegal cocaine crops.
Under international law, a state is considered to have violated the law if the actions or omissions causing the harm are attributable to the state or constitute a violation of the international obligations of that state.
In that case, it was contended that Columbia’s failure in carrying out due diligence regarding the spraying parameters constituted a breach of the no-harm principle.
Under the principle, a state is responsible for carrying out due diligence in regulating and controlling activities within its jurisdiction, including private conduct, to refrain from causing significant harm to the territory of other states.
The principle has been recognised by the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which came into force in 2003.
If the aerial spraying case is a precedent, then Indonesia can be sued for its failure in regulation and enforcement regarding the conduct of palm oil and pulpwood plantations – conduct which has caused significant transboundary damage to neighbouring countries.
Unfortunately, it might not happen. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has its own way – the Asean way, which emphasises informal and non-legalistic procedures, to cite political scientist Timo Kivimäki.
Transboundary haze victims in Southeast Asia have been without remedies for years now.
Mohamad Hafiz Hassan, lecturer, Faculty of Law, Multimedia University, Malaysia
More tourists isn’t necessarily better
Hong Kong welcomed nearly 50 million visitors last year. That is an impressive-sounding figure, though still below pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, spending per overnight tourist fell from HK$6,614 in 2018 to HK$5,503 (US$702) last year.
Comparing our numbers to those of other tourist destinations around the region gives some reason for optimism. Japan – a paradise for many Hongkongers – only had 42.7 million international arrivals last year, while South Korea was far behind with 18.7 million.
However, the number of visitors does not necessarily equate to an economic boost. Shrinking tourist spending is hurting local businesses. However, for many Hongkongers, the rising number of tourists causes discomfort, as they compete for seats on public transport, for example.
The Tourism Board is bending over backwards to attract more tourists, but its staff should be doing more to attract more people from not just the mainland but all over the world. That way, our reputation as an international city will shine. This is a material world, and tourism is about making money. Hongkongers are unlikely to appreciate an influx of tourists who spend very little money here.
Randy Lee, Ma On Shan
No clichés please
Though one would assume it’s not for Hongkongers, the Tourism Board’s latest effort to attract tourists – short videos under the theme “Only in Hong Kong” – is a pastiche of clichés.
In fact, some of the imagery looks similar to the award-winning video produced more than three decades ago for the tourist association by Louis Ng and Film Factory.
Like the song says – “You say it best when you say nothing at all” – perhaps it might be best for the Tourism Board to take a nap until the city has something truly new to show the world?
Hans Ebert, Wan Chai
Can Hongkong Post explore options elsewhere?
I refer to your editorial, “Hongkong Post must look beyond belt-tightening” (August 25).
In the 1970s, the McKinsey Report recommended that the government hive off services including the post office, but this didn’t come to pass. If the post office had been hived off, the story would be different today. See how well Link Reit has done, for example.
Unfortunately, given the current dominance of courier giants such as SF Express, even if Hongkong Post was to be privatised, the new company would face stiff competition.
Might there be opportunities elsewhere in the Greater Bay Area, or through the Belt and Road Initiative? To tap them, the postmaster would have to venture out of their comfort zone.
Lo Wai-kong, Yuen Long


Pending US$12.3 million house arrest fine keeps Malaysia’s Najib in prison

Anwar was on song in India. Will Malaysia reap the rewards?

Malaysia’s Loke resigns as transport minister following Najib’s house arrest approval

Malaysia deploys air force aircraft for cloud seeding to combat worsening haze

Malaysia

Could Indonesia be sued for the haze in Malaysia? Yes and no

The Kuala Lumpur skyline is shrouded in haze, as seen from Ampang, Malaysia, on August 26. Photo: Reuters

Indonesian wildfire haze forces 1.4 million students to move to online learning

Motorcyclists ride on a haze-shrouded road caused by forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, on Friday. Photo: AFP

Philippine capital’s ‘acutely unhealthy’ air due to Indonesian haze spurs warnings

A thick haze shrouds Metro Manila due to smoke from ongoing fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire in the Tumbang Nusa area of Pulang Pisau, central Kalimantan, on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Haze shrouding the area around the Sarawak Legislative Assembly building in Kuching, Malaysia, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

An Indonesian prays for rain at a mosque in Pontianak, West Kalimantan province, Indonesia, as haze from wildfires blankets the area. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia’s air quality turns hazardous as Indonesian wildfires burn

The skyline of Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur is seen shrouded in haze from regional wildfires on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Firefighters spray water in an attempt to extinguish a wildfire in Indonesia’s South Sumatra province on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Satellite data from Nasa’s Fire Information for Resource Management System showed dense concentrations of heat signatures in West Kalimantan on Sunday. Image: Handout

A farmer in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province sprays water in an attempt to extinguish wildfires that are burning his palm oil plantation on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Burnt trees lie on the ground at a peatland area affected by wildfires in Ketapang regency, West Kalimantan province, Indonesia, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Opinion

Readers discuss a recourse for victims of transboundary air pollution, tourist spending, tourism videos past and present, and Hongkong Post’s options


Readers discuss a recourse for victims of transboundary air pollution, tourist spending, tourism videos past and present, and Hongkong Post’s options.


.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Readers discuss a recourse for victims of transboundary air pollution, tourist spending, tourism videos past and present, and Hongkong Post’s options

Readers discuss a recourse for victims of transboundary air pollution, tourist spending, tourism videos past and present, and Hongkong Post’s options