Hawker food is part of Singapore's culture, and is a tradition worth preserving ("Allow hawkers to run stalls their way" by Mr Paul Chan Poh Hoi; Aug 17).

Therefore, we must do something to ensure its continued existence.

High rental and food costs are a problem hawkers face.

One way of reducing price on the supply side is to get FairPrice supermarkets to supply all hawkers at low wholesale rates. This should be possible because of economies of scale.

Government subsidies also help keep rent affordable for hawkers ("Govt policies help keep rents low for hawkers: Vivian"; Aug 19).

Not everything should be left to free-market forces. Only with the intervention of the Government can our traditional, beloved and essential hawkers continue to exist to serve the people of Singapore.

George Wong Seow Choon (Dr)