Fine litterbugs and make them clean up beaches in Hong Kong

Litter laws are not enforced vigorously enough. If they were, there would be no need for beach clean-ups.

In general it appears Hong Kong people only think about money so we should target their pockets with fines as well as use education.

The people who clean up the beaches are not the ones dropping the litter. If litterbugs had to clean up a beach for a day they might think twice about trashing our beautiful coastline. How can we promote tourism when our beaches are littered with rubbish?

The government’s lapsap TV advertisement trying to encourage appropriate behaviour lacks creativity.

Hong Kong children are bright and learn quickly without silly adverts. The old song “Keep Hong Kong tidy, Keep Hong Kong clean, Keep Hong Kong just the nicest place you’ve ever seen”, is a song we teach in Wembley International Kindergarten which children really relate to and which encourages active awareness through dramatisation. Whoever makes these government ads does not ask children’s opinions, but they should, because we can learn a lot from children and gain from their insight.

Smaller openings on litter bins will not change people’s bad habits, it will just encourage more frustration and more littering. How many people want to travel on public transport carrying a bag of litter home with them? Removing litter bins is not the answer. Just hire people to enforce the law and fine litterbugs.

It is the duty of parents and their helpers to aid children to appreciate a clean environment and encourage them to pick up after themselves.

There are some people who are irresponsible, so on-the-spot fines by litter wardens targeting all ages without discrimination are essential if we want a clean Hong Kong.

One has to admire and praise the people now carrying out beach clean-ups, they are an incentive to all of us.

Jean Afford, principal, Wembley International Kindergarten