letters

Reach out to elderly street-sleepers

I was sad to hear earlier this year about the death of a 101-year-old street sleeper.

I think it shows the government is not allocating enough resources to take care of our elderly.

This old man was born in the Qing dynasty, and he earned only HK$20 each day. Although he was poor, he was reportedly happy and liked to read novels in his leisure time. I found him inspiring, because although he lived alone on the streets he did not give up.

We really need to do more to help these elderly people on the streets. There should be social workers they can trust working with them.

Emily Yung Oi-tung, SKH Li Fook Hing Secondary School

Finding a real sustainable balance

Sustainable development is the buzz word these days.

It has three elements: environmentally sustainable, economically sustainable and socially sustainable. But too often there is an over-emphasis on one element. For example, to meet demand for housing and commercial buildings, reclamation is harming the environment and the ecosystem.

Balance is necessary.

I recently read an article in which the government and environmentalists objected to eco-tour operators increasing access to the outlying islands because they argued it was important to protect the environments of these islands and keep them tourist-free.

But I see this as a lost opportunity for the public to witness the beauty of nature and learn from it.

If we want to minimise the harm to nature, we can still let the general public visit the islands by requiring them to stay on their boats. This would be a balanced solution to the problem.

Finding balance is not always easy. But it is key to all sustainable development. I hope we can look at problems and find balanced solutions.

Yukiko Liu, Methodist College

Think positive

I used to be in bad mood all the time. I barely laughed, or even smiled. Nothing could cheer me up. When I look back, I realise I was miserable.

One day I asked myself what the point of life was, and I realised it was important to enjoy it. I made a decision to try to find ways that make me happy, to relish my life. I am glad to say that so far I have succeeded.

Life can be tough, but it can also be wonderful. It just depends on how we look at it. It is important to think positive and act positive. This is the rule of thumb for achieving a satisfying happy life, and feeling content with yourself.

Samantha Lau Pui-ching, Fung Kai Liu Man Shek Tong Secondary School

It's good to be young

We often hear that children want to grow up while adults want to return to their childhood. When I was young, I wanted to be a teenager or even an adult. But as I get older, I am now realising that being an adult is not an easy task. For instance, as adults we have to face problems independently. Basically, I've come to understand that being young is not a bad thing at all.

Jennifer Chan

There's no need for designer goods

Many teenagers love designer brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and Chanel. May be they think brand name products make them look good.

Students do not yet have the ability to make money. But many of them want to have designer bags or wallets, which cost at least HK$2,000 each.

Moreover, it is meaningless buy luxury goods. What students need is a simple and durable school bag in which they can put all their books and stationery. When we have a job and make our own money, we can buy brand name products.

Nash Wong Ming-kei, SKH Bishop Baker Secondary School