Schoolchildren are still being burdened with bags that are too heavy, despite a decade of surveys highlighting the problem.
The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, which has conducted surveys to weigh school bags since 1998, found that - over the 10 years - 54.4 per cent to 91.3 per cent of bags exceeded the acceptable level of 10 per cent of their child's weight.
Of the 48 primary school pupils who weighed their school bags at a small park in Ma Tau Wai Road, To Kwa Wan, yesterday, 59.6 per cent found their bags were too heavy - with the heaviest weighing in at 7kg.
William Lai Tsz-him, a Primary Five pupil who weighs 57kg, was carrying the 7kg bag which he packs every day.
Kowloon City district councillor Wen Choy-bon urged schools to implement 'book sharing' programmes and lockers so that children would not have to carry so many textbooks.
Mr Wen said that school bags should weigh no more than 10 per cent of a pupil's weight, according to the advice of medical experts.