Letters | Ukraine war: West will not thwart Russia’s pursuit of security

Readers discuss the grounds for Moscow’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, the taxi industry’s grouses, taking a more innovative approach to helping smokers quit, and the need to hasten Hong Kong’s digital transformation.

Ukraine war

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 23 Nov 2023

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This November 21 marked the 10th anniversary of the tragic events at Maidan Square in Kyiv, which actually were the starting point for the current Ukrainian crisis. Just a few months later in February 2014, the democratically elected president was overthrown. Radical nationalists seized state power and began to impose an anti-Russian agenda on the entire country.

Ukraine’s Eastern regions, which have gravitated towards Russia, did not agree with this. But those who seized power unleashed a genuine terror against this part of the population.

For a long time, Russia had tried to reason with Kyiv in the hope of building a national consensus that would suit various parts of the heterogeneous Ukrainian society, which could be reached by the Minsk agreements.

However, it turned out that the Ukrainian authorities and their Western patrons had other plans – they intensified their suppression of the ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking population, implicitly preparing Ukraine for a war against Russia. The climax was reached in 2021, when the West began pumping our neighbouring country with weapons.

Under these circumstances, Russia had no choice but to launch a special military operation in February 2022. By the end of March, it had actually achieved its main goals, while Kyiv appeared ready to conclude a political agreement that would be generally acceptable to both parties. In response, Russia withdrew some of its military forces from the Ukrainian capital as a gesture of goodwill.

But the West again intervened, and the so-called “Bucha massacre” was presented as alleged evidence of “atrocities” of the Russian army.

Nato then prolonged the confrontation by supplying Kyiv with weapons. Nato members see this conflict as a good investment for their own security. What they mean is the lives of Ukrainian soldiers would be a small price to pay for weakening Russia.

At the same time, Western countries have tried to present Moscow as the culprit for the breakdown of supply chains and the global food crisis, which, in fact, resulted from the erroneous financial and economic policies of the West during the pandemic and its illegal sanctions against our country.

All of these efforts will be vain, and the objectives of the special military operation will be achieved. Russia will consistently strive to create in Europe an architecture of a true security that takes into account the legitimate interests of all states.

At the same time, we will continue to cooperate with all partners who are ready for an equal and mutually respectful dialogue.

Igor Morgulov, Russia’s ambassador to China

Taxi drivers should get their own house in order first

Wong Yu-ting, chairman of the Hong Kong Tele-call Taxi Association, has won no victory in calling off the planned taxi strike (“Hong Kong taxi drivers call off planned strike after ride-hailing ‘olive branch’”, November 21). If the government is to clamp down on illegal rides, then that action should also apply to the illegal actions of taxis.

Hong Kong taxis are a disgrace, from reports of what appeared to be a bottle of urine tossed out of a moving taxi to the far more serious issue of their driving standards. The recent spate of fatal accidents involving taxis – three accidents in two weeks in Sai Kung, Lantau and Tsing Yi respectively – is evidence of their dangerous driving.

Customers have choices, and not having to travel in dirty and often unsafe vehicles with rude and aggressive drivers is one of them. Ride-hailing apps offer customers a better option.

Perhaps the taxi drivers who were threatening a strike should hold a mirror up to themselves and look to improve their own house before sulking that the competition is providing customers with a superior product.

Mark Peaker, The Peak

TCM, family-based approach can help smokers quit

Should Hong Kong raise its tobacco tax to curb smoking? The public consultation on tobacco control measures in Hong Kong has concluded but debate on the effectiveness of a tax increase continues. We need a wider perspective.

While a tax undeniably serves as a financial deterrent, Hong Kong should adopt a comprehensive approach that combines cessation support with financial deterrents – in other words, a carrot-and-stick strategy.

Firstly, upscaling successful community services should be a priority. With the disappointingly low usage of current government-run services, building on the success of community programmes will enable us to leverage existing experience and infrastructure to maximise the impact of cessation programmes.

For example, Pok Oi Hospital has run a cessation programme based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including using acupuncture, since 2010. A survey of the programme’s participants from 2012 to 2013 found a remarkable success rate of 41.6 per cent quitting within 26 weeks of completing the programme. Among those who did not quit, 90 per cent reduced their daily cigarette consumption by half.

The government could expand these services by collaborating with TCM clinics and training TCM practitioners to provide counselling.

Secondly, cessation programmes could be better designed. Given the dangers and prevalence of second-hand smoke, why not launch a family-based cessation programme that appeals for smokers’ concern for their family? Studies have shown that family-based cessation interventions during pregnancy and the post-partum period are effective and well-accepted by parents.

This will also align with the government’s vision of a family-centric system, as proposed in its Primary Healthcare Blueprint.

Hong Kong should work with the District Health Centres and the Maternal and Child Health Centres to pilot family-based cessation programmes. Family counselling sessions could also be organised to provide better support.

With the end of the public consultation, Hong Kong must turn rhetoric into action. Embracing these recommendations will allow Hong Kong to chart a clearer path towards a healthier and tobacco-free society.

Dicky Chow, researcher, and Dorothy Yeung, assistant researcher, Our Hong Kong Foundation

Hong Kong is falling behind in digital transformation

After the government implemented the higher fines for littering and storefront obstruction in October, I was astonished that it took about three weeks for the electronic payment system to be updated to accommodate payments of HK$3,000 or HK$6,000, forcing those served to pay at post offices or by cheque during that time. Such a delay is surely impeding the government’s efforts to promote e-services.

Why did no one recognise the move’s implications for the payment system throughout the lengthy discussions on the measure, in and outside the Legislative Council?

I note that a 2018 Google poll found that only about 30 per cent of Hongkongers saw the city as a smart city. Government departments should work harder to ensure their digital services meet public expectations.

Digital services are the future, and Hong Kong must try to catch up. For example, stalls in traditional markets still prefer cash to e-payment. While it will take time to change people’s habits, the government should start by mandating that all vendors in government-regulated areas install e-payment facilities.

Jack Chung, Sham Shui Po