It is heartening to see the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and PSA Corporation helping container lines tide over the difficult times with timely concessions ("Container lines to get new port incentive"; last Thursday).

The one-year concession, together with the Green Port Programme incentives and the20 per cent concession introduced in 1996, does provide some relief in the protracted slowdown.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises are suffering as a result of the global deflationary climate, caused primarily by the slowdown in China's economy.

The Singapore Business Federation has presented its proposals to the Government for its deliberation ("SBF outlines new routes to growth"; Jan 7).

I hope that the various government bodies can quickly work on relief programmes and roll them out as soon as possible to help prop up a faltering economy.

This year, the Budget is expected to be in late March and, by the time the Budget debates are done, it may well be mid-April.

I understand the need for a coordinated and robust approach. But we are already seeing shake-outs in the property and stockbroking sectors, and there could well be a rush to the exits after the Chinese New Year.

I hope timeliness will be a major factor in the Government's considerations.

S. Kumar