People can also help save the planet by recycling. Recycling bins are everywhere; unfortunately not many people use them. I often see people dumping stacks of newspapers into the litter bin, even though there is a paper-recycling bin nearby.

I hope all that will change and Hong Kong will become a cleaner place so that everyone can have a reason to smile.

Shereen Khemchandani, Marymount Secondary School

From the Editor

Thank you for your letter, Shereen. For such a small city, where every polluting action has such an impact on all of us, Hongkongers are remarkably indifferent when it comes protecting the environment.

Cars are still seen as such status symbols that people prefer to be seen in them rather than just hopping on a bus.

As for recycling, I have seen so many people put their newspapers in the rubbish bin when the recycling bin is literally 30cm further away. And what's even more worrying is the rumour that separated recyclables aren't even recycled, but just sent to the landfill.

Whatever the truth, and whatever is in fashion, we should all make more of an effort to protect the planet.

Even little things like turning out the lights when we're not in a room, not using the air conditioner until it's really, really hot, and switching electrical devices off at the socket can make a difference. And every tiny difference we make means a little bit of damage that isn't done to the planet.

Karly, Deputy Editor