They had been persuaded by their travel agents to spend a fixed amount in those shops.

The government should prosecute travel agents and tourist guides who are involved in such cases.

Visitors should be encouraged to report the cheats to the Hong Kong Tourism Board who should revoke the licences of shops which sell counterfeit goods.

Mainlanders should read the leaflets provided by their travel agents, and if there are any suspicions, they should not join the tour.

Especially, they should not sign up for 'zero-fee tours'.

They should realise that they could be abandoned if they do not follow their guide's instructions.

This way, Hong Kong's image won't be spoiled.

Lau Ka-yuet

Comics can be a positive influence

Reading comics is very useful for students. They can learn writing and drawing skills from these publications.

Also, comics offer a good way to relax after a hard day's work.

But there are good and bad comics.

Comics, such as IQ Doctor and Yi Xiu, provide useful knowledge and help readers maintain a positive attitude towards life.

Many parents have a negative view about comics and don't encourage their children to read them.

I agree that students should not read comics all the time and neglect their school work.

They should manage their time properly so that reading comics won't affect their exam results.

Miranda Ng Yuen-yan

Pollution can spoil HK's light show

There are many eye-catching sights in Hong Kong. But visitors are most impressed by the magnificent view at night.

This is why the city is often referred to as the Pearl of the Orient. In my opinion, the Peak and Victoria Harbour provide the most glittering spectacle.

From the Peak, we can have an uninterrupted view of the beautiful harbour. We can see thousands of neon-lights - they are like stars under our feet.

It also shows that Hong Kong is a very prosperous city.

The harbour also offers a breathtaking view, with multi-coloured lights dotting the skyline. They are like sparkling diamonds and make us feel that it is Christmas every day.

But sometimes the air pollution is so bad that we can hardly see anything.

It's the government's responsibility to control emissions. To ensure a cleaner environment, authorities should draw up a new strategy and rigorously enforce the anti-pollution ordinance.

Keeping Hong Kong clean is also the responsibility of every citizen.

We must do our best to protect our environment if we are to enjoy a better quality of life.

Angela Chiu Ho-yan, Yan Oi Tong Tin Ka Ping Secondary School

Online dating

Young people like to make friends through the internet and even date their online acquaintances. But many of them have been cheated or subjected to violence by their online pals. We should be careful when making online friends. It would be better to abandon the idea altogether and concentrate on our studies.

Lizzie

Unhealthy trend

I don't believe university students should have pre-marital sex because it promotes an unhealthy culture.

There is a good chance that girls may get pregnant and abandon their babies.

Besides, students may become too attached to sexual relationships.

Schools can organise talks on sex education to improve students' knowledge of the topic.

They should be taught to take precautions during sex, with emphasis on the use of condoms to prevent diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

Jack Yeung, King Ling College

A better future

My parents tell me that if I don't work hard, I won't be able to get a good job.

My science teacher says that schools won't teach us everything - during a 55-minute lesson, we can only gain knowledge worth a quarter of that time.

Learning is not the only important thing in life.

We need to have life experiences, so let's work together to have a better future.

Sarah Or, The Chinese Foundation Secondary School

TV a learning tool

I watch television mainly to gain a better understanding about what's happening around the world.

It provides a variety of entertainment for both children and adults, such as sports and music shows, cartoons and drama series.

Students should not watch television too much because it can affect their health and academic work.

You should use television as a tool to enhance your knowledge.

Lee Ching-ching, Carmel Secondary School

New sounds

Music is all about sounds. I like listening to pop music.

Upbeat melodies can make me happier.

There are various sounds in our daily life, like the noise made by glasses with different amounts of water.

Maybe you can find out something new about music.

Lee Hiu-tung, TWGHs Li Ka Shing College