Readers pay tribute to the late daughter of former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, and discuss ways to promote pet-friendly transit, making air quality information more accessible, and Chinese soldiers involved in the Ukraine war
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Leung Chai-yan
was our friend before she became a public figure. We knew her as our boarding school dorm mate and, later, neighbour with a unique sense of humour, a mercurial energy and a brilliance that made her unforgettable.
Chai-yan was both intelligent and studious, with the potential to pursue whatever career she wanted. She was multitalented: a phenomenal mathematician and linguist; a gifted harpist and pianist from a young age; and someone who could bring down the house in a comedic school play. Her sense of humour was singular and sometimes misunderstood. It lives on in the photos, videos and voice notes still shared between us, each one a reminder of how sharply funny and creative she could be. We’ll treasure them always.
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To us, Chai-yan always emphasised her deep respect and love for her family and her pride in their many accomplishments. She was a devoted and admiring sister. She was excited to give us updates on the impressive international work of her sister Chung-yan, with whom we were also at school.
Her true children were her pets: she was a devoted dog lover and poured herself into taking incredible care of her own fur babies and other rescues, including Rusty, Speedy, Guju, Lafite, Bond, Scotty, Charlie and Belle. She was a loyal friend, always cheering on those she loved and finding genuine joy in their successes. We will miss the deep meaningful conversations on dog walks.
Chai-yan was a patriot and loved Hong Kong and Chinese culture. Without fail, she would wish all her British friends a Happy Lunar New Year, reflecting her thoughtfulness and pride in where she came from. She taught some of us Chinese language at school, enabling one in our friendship group to go on and co-found a business in China, sparked by Chai-yan’s generosity of spirit all those years ago.
Chai-yan also helped open up public conversations around mental health, helping shift the conversation at a time when few dared to do so. She did this while facing online abuse and violations of her privacy. Our hope is that her openness made others feel less alone. Her courage should be remembered.
We miss her very much: her humour, her intelligence, her friendship. We hope others will remember the real Chai-yan: funny, brilliant, brave.
Arch Hades, Ella Robertson McKay, Yvette Tetteh and other former classmates at Wycombe Abbey
Trial allowing pets on trains should not be set up for failure
From May 1, the MTR Corporation will start a two-month trial allowing pet owners to
bring their pets
onto light rail trains. The initiative is framed as a step towards “promoting an inclusive community”. However, without the necessary supporting measures and public education, the pilot scheme could instead reinforce
existing biases
against pets, which will ultimately undermine efforts to expand the initiative.
To participate, owners must follow strict regulations. Pets must be completely enclosed in sealed carriers with no body parts exposed, travel is limited to weekends and public holidays and boarding is restricted to the last compartment.
These strict restrictions raise a question: does pet inclusion simply mean erasing the visible presence of animals? In addition, responsibility seems to fall disproportionately on pet owners. Has the company done enough to minimise disruptions brought by pets? And when disruptions are inevitable, has MTR or its partner, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, made any preparation to explain the purpose and value of the policy to foster public understanding?
Globally, some cities are already embracing pet-friendly metro, such as London and Paris. In advocating for inclusivity, Hong Kong must adopt the right approach.
It can learn from researchers Jennifer Kent and Corinne Mulley, for example, whose advocacy for pet-inclusive transit does not rely on vague ideals like “human-pet coexistence”. Instead, they provide solid grounds to establish the legitimacy of such a policy. They point out how pet ownership supports mental and physical health – walking the dog, for example, boosts exercise and social interaction. The policy can also encourage pet owners to opt for environmentally friendly travel.
Importantly, Kent and Mulley stress the need to listen to the objections and find solutions. Concerns about allergies, hygiene, safety and crowding are valid but manageable. The MTR’s scheme does restrict travel to non-peak hours and requires sealed carriers. However, what about complementary measures such as better ventilation or more frequent cleaning to reduce allergen exposure?
Public transport is inherently shared. Just as we accommodate wheelchair users or accept crying babies, we do so because we value their rights and needs. The same logic should extend to pets. Promoting inclusion requires cultural change, and that begins with storytelling about why pets matter and why some inconvenience is worth tolerating.
Inclusion means making space – not just physically, but also socially – for animals as part of urban life. Until the MTR actively builds that space with publicity and complementary measures, the pilot scheme might simply reinstate prevailing hatred against pets and dash hopes for more widespread adoption of pet-friendly transit.
Pit Hok Yau, research lead, Hong Kong Animal Law and Protection Organisation
Timely public announcements of air quality are vital
On Sunday, while the weather report on the radio forecast warm, hazy, sunny and dry weather, there was no mention of the
unhealthy air quality
. I heard no radio announcements before or after the weather report regarding the air pollution. And when I checked the website of the Hong Kong Observatory, there was no mention or data about air quality.
I am not sure whether announcements were made via other media channels, but all common media in Hong Kong should broadcast such public health information. Vulnerable people, including the elderly, should have been advised to take care if they were going out, especially if they were engaging in physical exercise or sports.
In case of unhealthy air, both the Observatory and the Environmental Protection Department should provide timely information to the public. In particular, the Observatory could give a media alert as they make frequent announcements anyway.
Thomas Gebauer, Discovery Bay
Ukraine was right to publicise capture of Chinese soldiers
The world has closely monitored China’s position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine since it began three years ago. While Beijing has consistently
maintained its neutrality
in this conflict, its diplomatic and economic support for Moscow has also allowed the Kremlin to continue its war in Ukraine.
Last week, Kyiv said
two Chinese soldiers
who fought on the side of Russia were captured by Ukrainian soldiers in the Donetsk region and released a video of their interrogation. Ukrainian and Western analysts immediately regarded this event as evidence of China’s participation in the war, which
China denied
.
Such assessments caused indignation on Chinese social media, where stories have appeared about Chinese citizens who fought on the side of Ukraine. One such story was that of Peng Chenliang, reportedly the first Chinese soldier who died fighting for Ukraine.
Did the Ukrainian side need to publicly disclose information about the captured soldiers? Perhaps this issue should have been discussed through diplomatic channels first. However, the refutation of Kyiv’s claim as a “complete lie” by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and likely attendance of President Xi Jinping at the
Victory Day parade
in Moscow showed the logic in Kyiv’s steps.
Yulia Klymyshyn, Beijing
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