Sometimes they might be strict but this is just a different way of showing their love.

So we should treasure our parents more. Many things happen that we can't prevent or predict, such as illness, natural disasters and wars.

We never know when we may lose the ones we love. So show your parents you love them - now.

Emily Lam, STFA Tam Pak Yu College

Public must know about chemicals

Some time ago, a chemical plant released a large quantity of chromium into a main tributary of the Pearl River and could have polluted the river. Chromium is a toxic chemical and would harm people if it got into the food chain.

I think this shows an ignorance of safety awareness by some mainland manufacturers. They have no sense of how dangerous chemical products can be. Also, workers don't know how to handle these chemicals.

To prevent future accidents, there is a need to increase public awareness of the dangers posed by chemicals. Factories should also conduct training courses on safety in the workplace. The central government should also monitor the safety standards at plant.

If nothing is done, it may soon be too late to save the environment.

Uranus Wong

Free newspapers have their place

There are more free newspapers in Hong Kong these days. Some people think these tabloids, which are more convenient, will soon replace the traditional papers.

I do not agree. Free newspapers are small and easy to carry, but they do not provide as much information as the traditional papers.

The free papers are good for people who just want to know the main headlines.

In short, they suit different people. It is unlikely that traditional newspapers will vanish from newsstands in the near future.

Toby Pei Yuen-lam

National education is not a bad idea

I am concerned about Hongkongers' negative attitude towards the new subject, moral, civic and national education. People think that it is brainwashing, and are trying to stop it.

The Education Bureau says the new subject will include perseverance, respect for others, responsibility, national identity and commitment. These are positive values so I don't think students' minds will be ruined. Hong Kong is part of China, and no longer a British colony, so being patriotic is an honour, not a shame.

I think the real reason behind the opposition to this subject is the locals' unfair attitude towards the Communist Party and mainlanders. Hongkongers are overreacting to everything related to the mainland.

I agree the Communist Party has made a lot of mistakes, but it does not mean the party will do anything harmful to the country. And yes, some mainlanders do not behave well, but most of them are nice and they are Chinese too.

Is it reasonable to discriminate against our brothers and sisters? If we discriminate against people just because they come from the mainland, it is unfair.

A negative attitude towards national education is clear evidence that the gap between the mainland and Hong Kong is widening. Many small steps lead to big changes, but hopefully the gap will not widen further.

Vincent Ng Wai-lam, SKH Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School

Double standards

While I agree that eating pets is cruel, there seems to be some inequality in the animal world. The steak on your plate was once an animal, too. So why is it different for pets? Why are pets protected, but not other animals?

I watched a television programme about how animals are slaughtered. It was horrible. Cows had their heads cut off while they were still alive.

If eating pets is illegal, eating other animals should be illegal, too.

Pele Chow