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SCMP Reporter

Stay positive and you will succeed

I'll be taking the HKCEE next year and I'm worried about it.

My sister, who took the exam this year, got only eight marks.

She worked part-time as a storekeeper during the summer, earning HK$200 a day.

Now, she has left her job and wants to go to a mainland university.

She says she cannot continue her studies in Hong Kong because of her poor exam results.

Despite this, she is optimistic about the future.

Lots of students feel stressed out because they  are afraid of getting low marks in the HKCEE.

But it's not the end of the world. They can find a job or join a vocational training programme.

My sister has taught me that life is never hopeless.

Ken Yeung

STFA Tam Pak Yu College

Time to crack down on careless drivers

A 36-year-old man and his 11-month-old baby were killed recently when a truck reversed into them. This is a terrible tragedy and I'm surprised that the driver of the vehicle was released on bail.

Hong Kong should introduce tougher legislation against people who kill pedestrians because of their careless driving. They should face the consequences of their actions.

According to a witness, the driver had reversed at a high speed.

This is foolish and irresponsible.

I hope the government will take appropriate action to prevent such a tragedy from happening again in the future.

Ridwan

California School

Textbook prices pose a big problem

The prices of textbooks have risen over the past few years. This has put a heavy financial burden on many families in Hong Kong.

Besides, the quality of some of these textbooks is poor. The material is badly organised and the information is not accurate.

Also, the thicker the book the higher the price, so the authors deliberately write more to fill up the space.

The government has a responsibility to monitor the quality of textbooks and keep their prices at affordable levels.

Ng Ming-chung

STFA Tam Pak Yu College

Reduce wastage

It's common for people to buy mooncakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. But many bakeries use excessive packaging for the delicacies. Each mooncake is wrapped in a plastic bag, and plastic knives and forks are also provided.

This is not environmentally friendly.

Both the consumers and manufacturers must do their part to protect the planet.

We can reuse the knives and forks, while bakeries can use simple wrappings for the mooncakes.

With the festival approaching, we should promise ourselves to reduce wastage and make this world a better place.

Winifred Wong

Don't misuse antibiotics

I'm writing in response to the star letter 'Too much medicine can weaken your body' (Young Post, August 24).

Some Hongkongers will go to the doctor even if they have a cold.

They may also buy antibiotics from a pharmacy.

This is not a good practice because your body will become resistant to the drug. That means you may need more powerful drugs to combat future illnesses.

The government should introduce new regulations to curb the sale of antibiotics. The authorities can also raise public awareness about the misuse of antibiotics which can have serious side-effects.

You should have plenty of sleep, a balanced diet and exercise to maintain good health.

Vinci Lau Wing-Chi

TWGHs Lui Yun Choy  Memorial College

Dishonest Chen should resign

Thousands of people have joined protests, calling for the resignation of Taiwan President  Chen Shui-bian.  Mr Chen is facing corruption allegations linked to him, his family and government.

I think he should leave immediately because he is dishonest.

If he cannot control his family members, how can he provide peace and prosperity to the public?

If Mr Chen insists on staying in office until 2008, there won't be any peace in Taiwan.

Fan Pak-tat

English offers link to the outside world

I joined the Crimson Summer Exchange Programme organised by the University of Hong Kong and Harvard University.

Some students from the American university came to Hong Kong to teach us English and learn about our culture.

At the closing  ceremony, the chairman of the programme - which lasted three weeks - said: 'Why do we need to learn English? Because we need to communicate with people all over the world.'

I completely agree with that view. Earlier I regarded English simply as a subject which was very important for entering university. I never thought about the other aspects of the language.

Now, I've realised that English is the only way I can connect with the world.

Yeung Ling-fai

STFA Tam Pak Yu College

Disney delight

Hong Kong Disneyland celebrated its first anniversary last Tuesday. Although the theme park failed to reach its target of 5.6 million visitors in the first 12 months, it still brought a lot of benefits to our tourism industry.

For example,  Disneyland-bound mainlanders  and other tourists would later go shopping or visit other attractions in Hong Kong.

In mid-July, Hong Kong Disneyland opened three new attractions - Autopia, Stitch Encounter and UFO Zone.

In Autopia, you can drive without a licence, while Stitch Encounter offers you an enjoyable tour with a blue alien. UFO Zone is an outdoor attraction that uses water jets and mist machines.

Children can play with water in UFO Zone, which also contains a pool.

These exciting additions will attract more people, while Disney officials have said they are making plans for another expansion.  I hope Hong Kong people would be proud of Disneyland.

Daisy Tam

Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen  Yiu Memorial College

True maturity

I used to enjoy being alone because I could do whatever I liked and go wherever I wanted.

I thought this meant freedom and maturity. As time passed, I became isolated and started to ignore things around me.

I didn't do anything for my family or society.

Then I discovered that this was not  what I wanted.  I was foolish  to believe I had grown up despite  having no interaction with the outside world.

Now, I am 16 and I still don't think I have really matured.

A Student



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