Source:
https://scmp.com/article/739106/letters

letters

Hunt for credits shows NSS' failings

I am concerned about students signing up for clubs and other activities, as part of the New Senior Secondary (NSS) curriculum. Extra-curricular activities can prove important when applying for university.

From my experience at school, I have found most of my classmates joining clubs and programmes in which they are not really interested. They just want the extra credits.

Yet this practice is leading to a big problem.

Most students are not interested in learning anything on the programmes. They simply want to be able to say they have signed up. They are wasting their time and also wasting the time of those people running the clubs and programmes.

The purpose of the NSS will be ruined if the situation continues.

Tin Ka-chung, The Chinese Foundation Secondary School

Time to slow down, enjoy life's journey

I think people need to slow down the pace at which they live their lives.

If you look around - from sunrise to sunset - people are rushing all the time. Rushing to work, from work, rushing to meetings, from meetings, rushing to eat lunch and dinner, or make a second appointment.

Our mobile phones help us to organise things so we can rush that bit more.

It as if we are in a race. And everyone is taking part - in rushing. But maybe it is time we slowed down to think about what we are doing. Life is short. It is not a race. The journey of our lives is what matters, not the destination.

Amy Leung Ho-yin

Bad tour guides ruin our reputation

The recent bad behaviour of tour guides seems to be becoming worse. There's increasing conflict between tour guides and tourists.

Travel agencies attract mainland travellers by offering cheap prices. But tour guides force tourists to buy things so they can make a commission.

I was not aware of such practices before. I think it is unreasonable. Travellers should have the right to decide whether or not to visit shops and buy things.

I also think tour guides that force clients to visit shops are very selfish. They are only interested in the commissions and making profits.

Fortunately, under new rules, tour operators that force tourists to visit shops will receive demerits or, in more serious cases, even lose their business licences.

The lack of training and poor moral standards of tour guides is another problem that needs to be addressed.

Exploiting travellers must not be tolerated because it greatly harms our tourism industry. I hope Hong Kong's long-cherished reputation as a shopping paradise will not be damaged by unscrupulous tour guides.

Fanny Tsui Lai-fan, Tin Ka Ping Secondary School

We need to become smart consumers

There seems to be a never-ending desire among Hongkongers for the latest electronics goods and gadgets. Many teenagers cannot resist the temptation of expensive, hi-tech products. This is especially true in the case of latest devices, such as iPhones, iPads and iPhones, and cameras and headphones.

Most of these youngsters are attracted by the fact that something is new, or by the look of something. And they are often influenced by their peers. Many young people think they need to own trendy gadgets or they will be looked down upon.

Mobile phones and computers play a big part in our lives so Hongkongers are used to using them all day long. But many people feel it is important to upgrade and have the latest models - even if what they have still works. They end up wasting a lot of money. Most electronic items, such as mobile phones and cameras, can last for a number of years. It's such a waste to replace them every six months.

People should be encouraged to sell products that are still useful, rather than simply replacing them with a newer model. This would help reduce waste.

I think people should think twice before snapping up the latest gadgets. - and show self control and avoid unnecessary spending. Parents need to explain the importance of saving so we can learn to be smart consumers.

Pansy Wong, Leung Shek Chee College