bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Remember Sars and be more hygienic
The recent flu outbreak has reminded me of the Sars outbreak in 2003.
Sars taught many people about hygiene and the need to live a healthier lifestyle. A lot of people started wearing face masks when they had a cough or cold, and they made sure they washed their hands as often as possible.
But over time, I think people have forgotten the lessons of Sars. I see people sneezing without covering their nose and mouth. And some people are still spitting in the street.
Germs spread easily but if we are going to prevent another flu outbreak, we need to be more alert and responsible.
Lo Ka-wai, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College
Schools could  be greener
We all know about the importance of environmental protection but I think more needs to be done to promote green issues in schools.
One idea is to hold a school recycling competition. This would see classes compete against each other, with the class that deposits the most in recycling bins winning. This competition  would  encourage young people to recycle more.
I would also like to see  schools looking greener and prettier. To do this, schools could choose students keen on gardening to turn the campus roof into a garden. Horticultural clubs could also be set up.
Finally, I think cleaning up the playground will also make students more environmentally aware.
Mandy Sze Yuen-fai, Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College
Zoos have their place
Should animals be kept in zoos? I think it depends on the animal.
If the animal has been in the zoo for a long time, I don't think it would be in its best interest to go back into the wild.
But if the animal is new to the zoo, then I think it should be released back into the wild as soon as possible.
We also need to consider whether zoos should be allowed at all, because regardless of how long an animal has been kept in the zoo, it is still wild and dangerous.
On the plus side, zoos can protect endangered animals, such as pandas.
There is much debate about zoos, but I think they have a place and should not be banned outright.
Shirley Yau, Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School
Environmental protection at a cost
Some people argue that it is fair to force developing countries to protect the environment by making it a condition of aid.
But it is the developed countries that release most of the greenhouse gases every year.
If developed countries were forced  to do more to protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gases, their economies would suffer. But I think that the more pollution they produce,  the more responsibility they should bear.
Giving aid to poorer  countries should not be dependent on them reducing pollution if developed countries don't do the same.
Helping the poor  does not give richer countries the right to  intimidate and bribe  developing nations.
Developing countries are usually too poor to take care of themselves, let alone  protect the environment. The most important thing for these countries is to help  them tackle poverty. So I don't think  developing countries  should be forced  to protect the environment in order to get  aid.
Hayley Tse
Privacy rights
The debate on whether the press has the right to report on the private life of famous people has been raging for years. But I think everyone, including stars, has the right to privacy.
Although people in the public eye  have some  influence on  society, they are still  just humans who have the right to do what they want without being hounded by photographers.
The recent sex photo scandal involving Edison Chen Koon-hei  is a good example of the plight facing many Hong Kong stars.  Although what he did was sparked controversy, it's his life.
Many people condemn Chen but what about the people who took the photos off his computer? I think they are just as responsible.
To protect privacy, I think magazines and newspapers should not print private details about a person's life.   And readers should also stop buying the magazines that print such information.
By boycotting any behaviour that attacks a person's privacy, moral standards in  Hong Kong will improve.
Tim Hung, Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School
Act now to stop urban decay
Urban decay is a serious problem in Hong Kong, and you just have to look at areas such as Sham Shui Po and Yau Ma Tei to understand why.
In these areas many buildings are old and shabby. Some of them are not safe or have illegal structures  on top of them.
I think the government needs to do something to  solve the problem, such as redeveloping all the run-down areas in Hong Kong, although buildings with historical value need to be preserved.
If we do not take action soon, the situation will get worse.
Tommy Ho, Buddhist Tai Hung College
Always look on the bright side of life
Do you look on the bright side even when things are getting you down? I think I do.
There are always things in life that we don't want to do, but we can't run away from them.
Try to be optimistic. Then you will find that the world is a great place.
Christy Siao Pui-ling, Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School



letters