Toilet standards

Comments on Zou Hanru's column "Hong Kong flushed with loo ideas" (China Daily, September 14, 2007))

The forthcoming Olympics has meant vast sums have been spent to give the best impression to visitors to the capital city.

The sad truth is even in the so-called modern cities such as Shanghai and Guangzhou it is never necessary to ask where toilets are - you can smell them. Most Western tourists head for the nearest McDonalds or five star hotel and have been pre-warned to carry toilet paper.

On a recent trip to Yunnan a toilet enroute consisted of a rat invested long sloping concrete trench - I pitied the female participants on our tour.

It is not just the toilets but the sewerage smells which are very evident in the streets.

China is often portrayed as a leading world country but in the toilet hygiene stakes it is running close to last.

Brian Taylor

via e-mail

Compared to their counterparts on the Chinese mainland Hong Kong public toilets are well-equipped clean.

I think the watchdogs of mainland toilets should do more to improve them.

Awareness of hygiene must be promoted more forcefully. It is a matter of public pride and represents the image of a city.

WJ

on China Daily website

Energy accord

Comment on "China and US sign energy accord"

(China Daily, September 17, 2007))

It is about time the US and China start making agreements on cooperation. The two countries together can do a lot and lead to prosperity for all.

It is wise for China to sign the cooperation as both countries will learn the do's and don'ts of the other.

Concerned

on China Daily website

Love for reading

Comment on Li Xing's column "Cultivating a love for reading"

(China Daily, September 17, 2007))

Kids seem to be fed up with reading nowadays. They would rather spend their time watching cartoons than reading.

As a result, they do not recognize the historical figures their peers of the last generation do. Most importantly, their writing ability deteriorate.

The contents of a book are important to raise a child's interest in reading. Contempory information is necessary to cater to the tastes of kids of this generation.

Rain

on China Daily website

Balloon explosion

Comment on "Balloon explosion injures over 60 students in NW China"

(China Daily website September 17, 2007)

It is really bad news. It is a pity little girls and boys were injured. I want to know why there were so many hydrogen balloons in the playground.

Ron

on China Daily website

(China Daily 09/18/2007 page11)