One simple and effective way to resolve the problem of the inadequate supply of parking coupons and to do away with the hassle of exchanging the old parking coupons for the new ones would be to allow the use of the old 50-cent, $1 and $2 coupons, but at the new rates ("New parking coupon respite - but just once"; Dec 8).

Rather than parking for half an hour at the new rate of 60 cents, a driver could use the old 50-cent coupon and park for only 25 minutes.

For $1 coupons, which were previously valid for one hour, they would now be valid for 50 minutes, and so on.

This method should have been implemented in the first place.

The old parking coupons would then still be valid and drivers can use them legally.

No laws are being circumvented and concerns about the hoarding of the old coupons to effect a 20 per cent savings would be addressed as well.

It is still not too late for the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Housing Board to adopt this solution.

Joe Chua Cheok Kwang