'My bag didn't cost much. I can't see why students take an expensive bag to school. Wearing uniforms and carrying an expensive bag doesn't make you look cool.

'I don't like carrying a backpack. It's rather clumsy. I have a locker at school so I leave most of my things there. The mobile, of course, I have my mobile with me all the time. How can you leave home without it these days?'

Tony Leung, 18, Form Six, carrying a backpack

In his bag: textbooks, a Mickey Mouse pencil case with stationery, a plastic folder with notes and a notebook.

'I don't usually take much to school because I almost always go home right after school. I do not have a mobile phone and I don't need one anyway. I might get one next year after I get into university.

'As far as I know, there aren't any rules about school bags at my school. I have been using this backpack for quite a few years. I like it because you can put lots of things in it.'

Yvonne Mak, 17, Form Five, carrying a shoulder bag

In her bag: pens, a mobile phone, textbooks, a mini-disc player, a Miriam Yeung Chin-wah CD and writing pads.

'Most girls like to carry shoulder bags, probably because we look better with shoulder bags than with backpacks or other bags.

'And we are not allowed to use mobile phones in school. If we really need to make a call, we usually do it where nobody can see us, like in the washroom or the dressing room. As to whether I'm allowed to take my MD player? I guess nobody cares about such things these days.'

Claudia Yeung, 16, Form Five, carrying a backpack

In her backpack: a mobile phone, a mini-disc player, a notebook, textbooks, South China Morning Post (student's copy) and a pencil case. Little metal stars have been sewn on to her backpack as decoration.

'I sewed the stars on to my bag piece by piece. It took me a whole afternoon. I just did it for fun. I like to decorate my belongings - it's my style.

'My teachers always say my school bag looks cool. They come up to me and ask: 'Did you do it yourself? How long did it take?' It gives me a sense of satisfaction.'

Cody Chan, 14, Form Three, carrying a backpack

In his bag: a mobile phone, a mini-disc player, a pencil case, textbooks, notes, a Japanese fashion magazine and a cuddly animal doll. Cartoon character badges also decorate his bag.

'I like reading fashion magazines, not only local ones but also English and Japanese ones. You definitely have to read them if you want to find out what's hot and what's not. It's fun to read them with my classmates during lunch.

'I don't take all my textbooks because we don't always use them during lessons. I take some books and my classmate who sits next to me takes the others. We share our books in class so we don't have to carry such a heavy school bag.'