Your Voice: Youth need to plan for their future; electric vehicles can be a boon for Hong Kong (short letters)

The staggering statistic that around 80 per cent of secondary students in Hong Kong are unsure of what to pursue in life is a wake-up call. It’s a call to action for parents, teachers, and government officials to step up and provide the necessary support and guidance.

Perhaps it is the overwhelming academic pressure to achieve excellence that is imposed on young people. Or it is the lack of relevant activities organised by local institutions that support career exploration.

Conventional employment takes a back seat

Among the respondents who had direction in life, three-fourths of them formulated their path from their parents or teachers. Although they may offer practical advice, it is not necessarily ideal to merely learn from elders. To them, the epitome of a successful career path might be becoming a doctor or a lawyer. Still, with the rapid development of our society in recent years, success can come in many forms.

There is a need for secondary schools and the government to focus more on developing ideas among the youth about what they wish to do in their future journeys.

More comprehensive workshops, and interactive sessions could be organised to pique their interest in finding their unique pathways.

Darin Cheung Pak-kan, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College

In densely populated cities like Hong Kong, promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) could promote significant environmental benefits.

The city faces high levels of pollution and by encouraging the adoption of EVs, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, Hong Kong could significantly improve its air quality and public health. This would benefit not only the current population but also future generations by creating a cleaner and healthier environment.

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Additionally, promoting EVs could help Hong Kong reduce its carbon footprint and combat climate change. Transitioning to EVs powered by renewable energy sources could help the city achieve its sustainability goals. The EV market is growing rapidly, and investing in infrastructure for charging stations and supporting industries could stimulate job creation and innovation.

Hong Kong has the opportunity to position itself as a leader in sustainable transport and attract global investments from companies looking to expand their presence in the green economy.

Lam Hoi-kei, Pope Paul VI College

There are countless reasons why dogs are rightfully known as a man’s best friend. The mere act of interacting with a dog can transform our state of mind, making us feel more at ease, focused, and less lonely. This emotional connection is further strengthened by the fact that dogs have the unique ability to reduce stress and trigger positive emotional responses in us.

A Swedish study has revealed a fascinating aspect of our relationship with dogs. It found that women experienced lower levels of stress hormones after just 15 to 30 minutes of petting dogs. Even more intriguing, a dog owner’s happiness hormone index increases significantly after just one to five minutes of petting their furry companion.

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The most well-known job dogs have is looking after homes. Dogs are also trained as guide dogs to take care of blind or physically handicapped people. They can also be used as military, police, and drug detection dogs. After disasters, specialised rescue dogs are often the first to enter dangerous areas to find survivors.

Respect, cherish and care for animals, and don’t harm them. I earnestly hope that animals will suffer less harm and live better lives.

Edison Ng Chun-lun, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College

As a Form Five student, I have experienced a dramatic change in my daily life since I started preparing for my university entrance exams. The relentless cycle of tests and homework has confined me to my room, where I find myself surrounded by towering stacks of books and piles of notes. Amid this academic frenzy, a thought has emerged: are books and notes still essential in our modern era?

Technology has rapidly evolved, and devices have emerged as replacements for traditional books. One can access a vast repository of knowledge and information with just a few taps on a screen.

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Yet, despite these advantages, there remains an intangible quality to books that cannot be replicated. Holding a book, flipping through its pages, and immersing oneself in its contents offers a sensory experience that an iPad simply cannot replicate.

There is a certain satisfaction in physically turning the pages, underlining essential passages with a pen, and scribbling notes in the margins. The tactile nature of reading a book and the connection it fosters with the material is a unique aspect of the vintage world that technology struggles to emulate.