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Naomi Ng

Naomi Ng, 17,  Diocesan Girls School
According to the law, eating and drinking is not allowed on MTR trains or platforms.  There is a HK$2,000 fine for those who do.
True, it would be great for busy people to be able to cram in a bite to eat before getting to school or the office in the morning. But think about the smell on  the train.
The MTR Corporation  says an average of 3.7 million commuters use its  trains every weekday. Imagine what it would be  like if all  everyone was eating.  The smell can be bad enough already in the summer. If you  add the stench of curry fish balls and McDonald's burgers, it would be beyond unbearable. 
Who would want to take the MTR? The smell might be worse than the air pollution above ground.
 Also, imagine the train suddenly screeching to a stop. There would be food flying everywhere. The last thing we need is greasy hand-bars and sticky seats on the MTR. 
If eating and drinking were allowed on the MTR, extra workers would have to be employed for cleaning, so ticket prices would go up. Who needs that?
Alvin Yuen, 19, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
It is understandable  the MTR  has strict rules about eating and drinking on trains.  It has these rules so that people do not drop and spill things and make a mess inside the train.  
But should this apply to all food-on-the-go? After all, it is very inconvenient for passengers to be not allowed to eat on the train. Hongkongers work  long hours and many are forced to eat on-the-go. Some people are lucky if they can grab a bite  for breakfast. A lot of people who have to  travel long distances to work eat as they go. In other words, if we let people eat on the MTR, they would not have to quickly scoff down a sandwich or throw away a half-eaten muffin before entering the platform.
Making it illegal to eat or drink on the MTR definitely helps to prevent messes and accidents, but I don't think that means all food should be banned from trains. Some eat-on-the-run food, for example, is easily consumed without making a mess. 
Individuals should be able to make their own judgment about what food and drinks can be consumed on a moving train. Perhaps it would make sense to fine people who do make a mess on the trains.




Should eating and drinking be allowed on MTR trains?