The mainland accounts for more than 50 per cent of the coal industry's global death toll annually, according to reports. The actual figure may even be higher. Miners are dying at a rate of six a day, according to the BBC.

Economic progress is the mainland's top priority right now. As the demand for energy rises, mining companies try to cut costs by skipping safety measures and inspections.

The latest accident is just the tip of the iceberg. It is the workers who suffer from the mine owners' greed. This loss of innocent lives has to be stopped.

The only solution is for the central government to directly supervise the mines. The local authorities have failed to do their job.

The United Nations could force the mainland to follow international safety guidelines to protect the miners.

Developed countries can also play their part by providing the latest technology and professional training for the mainland's miners.

This tragedy is a chilling reminder that more people will die unless immediate action is taken to ensure the mining industry follows the rules.

Eunice Li, Our Lady of the Rosary College

Beware of cyber friends

Meeting friends online, playing online games and surfing the internet are the things teenagers like best. Sometimes we can have fun online. But it can be dangerous.

When you chat online, nobody knows who you are. But you don't know who the other person is either. They may be a bad person. When girls chat online with boys, the boys might claim to be handsome and try to arrange a meeting.

There have been cases where girls went to see someone they met online and were killed. It is too dangerous.

Meeting friends is good but you need to know who they are.

Be careful when making friends online.

Michael Ho, Wah Yan College, Kowloon

Remember to be involved

Many students cannot remember what they have been taught in class. I think the key is to be active during lessons.

Hong Kong students spend many hours in school from Monday to Friday. But they just sit in their classroom and don't ask questions or voice their opinions.

If we fall asleep in class, we are not going to learn anything.

So be active during lessons and you will feel less bored. Asking questions helps develop our thinking skills and motivates us to learn.

When we ask a question, we learn more about a topic and expand our knowledge.

Kong Cheuk-lam, Pooi To Middle School

A matter of manners

After being at my school for more than two months, I find students here very different.

During assembly many chat with their schoolmates, even when the teacher is talking. We should keep quiet and listen carefully. It is called respect.

When I go to the toilet, I always find the floor very wet. Sometimes there is rubbish on the floor. We should keep the toilets clean by throwing rubbish in the bin and wiping our hands dry after washing them.

We should also keep quiet while waiting outside a classroom and when walking up and down the stairs. We can always chat during recess and should think of others who are having lessons.

I look forward to our school having more considerate and caring students.

Wing-tin