The charming letter written by Mr Kazuhiro Nishioka, "Working my way through hawker centres to discover Singapore's charms" (Dec 15), prompted me to write this.

I was happy to see the bright yellow tables at Tanglin Halt Market in the accompanying photo.

The tables were kept neat and clean, and not disfigured by large posters stuck on the tables.

I had wanted to write in earlier to bring up this undesirable practice of sticking all kinds of posters on hawker centre tables.

When cleaners wipe the tables, dirt and food remnants tend to get stuck around the sides of the posters, especially when they start peeling. The tables end up looking dirty and ugly. Tables should have nothing on them except for the table number.

It is even worse at Whampoa Hawker Centre (above). Here the tables have not just one, but three stickers on the table. This does a big disservice to the hawkers as the rather dirty-looking appearance of the tables puts off patrons who wish to dine there.

There is no need for stickers on the table as there are already big banners strung up and big posters stuck on pillars with the same messages reminding people to be civic-conscious.

I appeal to the authorities to stop this unnecessary practice.

Unlike Mr Nishioka, I have visited only a handful of hawker centres. I wish him many more joyful moments experiencing the vibes, character and food of the rest of Singapore's hawker centres.

Koh Hock Neo