Corrected but unbowed (Letter to Editor, 30 November 2006)

I stand corrected. In her letter "Smoke-free beaches" (November 14), Annelise Connell of Clear The Air pointed out that, contrary to what I said in my letter "Reality check" (November 10), the US does have some smoke-free beaches.

Where we differ, however, is on whether Hong Kong should ban smoking on our beaches when many beaches in the US and Europe are not smoke-free. I do not believe we should - not because I am in any way protecting or promoting the tobacco industry, as Ms Connell suggests, but because I believe it is an unnecessarily extreme step that will be difficult to enforce.

Most smokers, as Ms Connell suggests, would respect the ban of course, but some would not.

We in the Liberal Party support the law banning smoking in offices, restaurants and indoor public places, but we believe that education and promotion are also key to helping Hong Kong become the smoke-free city we would all like it to be.

JAMES TIEN, chairman, Liberal Party