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Let's embrace the concept of HQ
 Many people believe that someone with a high IQ and EQ stands more of a chance to succeed. It is true that high levels of IQ and EQ help you tackle problems better.
Yet some psychologists are now proposing a new concept: HQ. It stands for 'Happiness Quotient' and refers to someone's ability to create a pleasant atmosphere for communication and interaction among people. 
The prime value of HQ lies in giving priority to other people's feelings. In other words, it does not matter how smart (IQ) or emotionally stable (EQ) you are, it is also important  to make others feel happy. We all know people who are popular because of their friendly and outgoing personality.
I believe that we could all use a bit more HQ. Many people are under great stress and suffer from heavy workloads. 
They would appreciate the company of friends or partners who can make them happy.
Karen Ting, Hang Seng School of Commerce
Repairing broken family relationships
 Our families are the main source of love and support in our lives. As young children, we see our parents as people with superpowers. They care for us, nurture us, protect us.
Yet as we grow older and become teenagers, our relationship with our parents might become strained. We may often argue with them. It seems as if they no longer understand us.
It takes courage to admit one's faults, but that is the only way to repair broken-down relationships at times.
Recently I wrote a letter of confession to my mother. In it, I told her how I felt about the misunderstanding between us. Sadly, she did not respond in the way I hoped she would. It has been very frustrating for me.  
Joyce Tam, Christian Alliance S. C. Chan Memorial College
Personal data  must be protected
 After recent scandals over large-scale identity theft, more people are aware of the importance of protecting their personal data. They make sure to read the fine print on the application forms they fill in.
We should certainly be careful not to disclose personal information and important data about ourselves to companies we do not know or fully trust. 
Yet I believe it is also such companies' responsibility to make sure that their customers can rest assured that their private details are kept safe. Leaking customers' data to third parties is a serious violation of their trust. 
 Eleanor Wong
Mainland doctors should be welcome
 Staff shortages in Hong Kong public hospitals have become an issue. 
I think a good way to solve the problem is to allow qualified doctors and nurses from the mainland and other countries to work in Hong Kong. Hiring mainland and foreign talent can lighten the workload of local doctors and nurses. 
Training a new pool of local medical staff needs time, whereas many foreign professionals are already well-trained with good qualifications and hands-on experience.
As an added benefit, local doctors and nurses could also learn new treatmeants from their foreign peers. Such an exchange of ideas would surely benefit not only them but also their patients. 
Obviously, the government should exercise caution in hiring foreigners for jobs in Hong Kong. For instance, foreign professionals could be limited to work only at public hospitals.
The current shortage of doctors and nurses has dire consequences for the standard of health care. Building new hospitals will not help much unless we also have enough doctors and nurses to staff them.
Grace Luk, YWCA Hioe Tjo Yoeng College
Smoking should  be banned
 I cannot stand cigarette smoke. Whenever my friends light up, I try to persuade them to put out their cigarettes.
Secondary smoke can harm our health just as badly as if we were smoking ourselves. 
It is selfish of smokers to endanger the wellbeing of others with their own bad habit. 
I urge the government to ban smoking everywhere in public, including parks and sidewalks.
Janet Ching Hoi-man, Pooi To Middle School



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