The Lens: No more bad hair days for Japanese military officers as hairstyle rules will be eased amid low recruitment

James Li Chi-yan, 17, Hong Kong Tang King Po College

Military standards regarding the physical appearance of officers should not be relaxed. Longer hair can impede a soldier’s performance in battle, as it may become tangled and stuck, potentially compromising their mobility.

Maintaining a professional and uniform image is crucial for military personnel as it promotes discipline, cohesion, and public confidence. Strict standards help project a strong and unified image.

Additionally, tattoos on the skin may contain controversial words or images, and some tattoos may display exceedingly poor aesthetic taste, which could negatively impact the morale of the entire regiment.

It is important to consider that these factors not only affect the individual soldier but also have implications for their families back home. Soldiers with poor physical appearance and aesthetic choices may reflect negatively on their families and the reputation of their country.

In my opinion, instead of relaxing military standards, it may be beneficial for Japan to provide newcomers to the armed forces with recreational activities in their downtime.

This could include reading comic books, playing computer games, or even activities related to military training.

By incorporating computer games that simulate military scenarios or require strategic thinking, the armed forces can offer an interactive and educational experience that appeals to the interests of the officers.

This approach could potentially attract more individuals to join the armed forces once they have broken down their conservative mindset and developed a greater interest in military service.

Read more about last week’s issue

More Hong Kong taxis will start accepting cashless payments as early as April.

By the third quarter of the year, 1,000 taxis will be equipped with the new “CabCab” meter, which links the cab meter to e-payment systems.

The new technology will provide passengers with multiple options for e-payment. Taxi drivers will be able to retrieve their earnings electronically at the end of their workday.

Developers said their goal was to evolve the platform into a one-stop technology that covered ride-hailing services, e-payments, electronic receipts and more.

The technology can calculate the taxi fare, which might include tolls and service charges.

However, passengers may have to pay more in the future. “It’s like going to [a] restaurant; there might be a 10 per cent service charge,” said Wong Yu-ting, managing director of CabCab. “Why do diners keep going? Because they think it’s worthwhile. We hope the services of cabs will improve so passengers will be happy to pay the charge.”

Passengers paying the service charge may be eligible for discounts and promotions when they use their taxi receipts to pay for food and drinks.

The system was developed to tackle long-term issues, such as exchanging cash and the multiple steps required to use e-payment.

Hong Kong’s taxi drivers are often accused of refusing to move with the times and embrace e-payments as an alternative to cash. Popularising e-payments for taxis could potentially bring more business to drivers.

Staff writers

• Do you think cashless options will benefit Hong Kong taxis? What are the advantages and disadvantages of cashless payments?

• Is it fair for passengers to pay extra for these services? Why or why not?

• If you could change one thing about Hong Kong’s taxi services, what would it be, and why?