Paying the price

Repentance for an offense is good, but paying for it even better. The decision by the 22 dairy firms found to have sold melamine-tainted baby formula to compensate families of sick children is thus a commendable move.

The companies have offered to make one-off cash payments to the families, and create a fund to cover the victims' potential future medical bills. In thus shouldering responsibility they hope to earn forgiveness of the families, as well as of the public.

Although the size of the remedy is not known yet, this is a responsible action to right the wrongs they have done.