Your Voice: Music therapy and community-centred redevelopment (short letters)
This week, students talk about the power of music, boosting the city’s economy and how residents must be considered when planning redevelopment.
Don’t underestimate music therapy – it is astonishingly effective, one reader writes. Photo: Shutterstock.Have something to say? Send us a letter using this form.
Melodies provide comfort
Christy Heidi Lie, International Christian School
Music therapy encompasses everything from strumming guitar chords to analysing lyrics, group drumming sessions, singing exercises and composing music.
Guided by trained, licensed therapists, these activities can reduce stress, improve your communication skills and help you express your emotions. This form of therapy can aid anything from anxiety to schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress and dementia.
A recent meta-analysis of 55 studies found music therapy significantly reduces depression symptoms. One hospital study on child anxiety found that 100 per cent of parents and carers surveyed reported finding music therapy helpful, while 97 per cent of staff believed it reduced patient stress.
Statistics aside, as a student and teenager dealing with Hong Kong’s harsh academic pressure, I am able to de-stress by playing the piano and singing along. The musical activity is more accessible for me than talking to a professional.
Music therapy allows patients to express themselves in an alternative way, process emotions that may be difficult to verbalise and improve their general well-being.
Stroke survivors recover lost speech through music therapy
Boosting the city’s economy
Alice Tang Yi-ting, Leung Shek Chee College
Hong Kong’s economy risks shrinking, as many are choosing to leave the city. Consumer confidence is declining, shops are shuttering and unemployment rates are rising.
It is no secret that Hong Kong is one of the most expensive cities in the world. The high cost of living has made residents unwilling to spend locally. There is a general sense of unease, forcing many to seek opportunities abroad.
I believe the government can take several steps to encourage people to stay in Hong Kong and spend locally.
For example, offering discounts and special deals for residents may promote local spending on food and shopping. The government could also organise and host more cultural and sporting events to attract both residents and tourists. Supporting small businesses and helping them stay afloat in the competitive market is also crucial.
Finally, improving social services will enhance everyone’s quality of life in Hong Kong, rebuild their confidence in the economy and encourage locals to spend more in the city. These changes will create a better environment for businesses and residents, boosting Hong Kong’s economy.
Prioritise the community
Victoria Cheung, Pope Paul VI College
Redevelopment projects promise economic growth but often pose significant challenges. These government-led projects revitalise areas, attracting new businesses and investors to older districts and upgrading their infrastructure and functionality.
However, they can disturb community members, especially through loud and hazardous activities like demolition and heavy machinery operations. Noise, dust and even vibrations can extend beyond a construction site, disrupting residents’ sleep and their daily routines. In addition, new structures often have lighting fixtures for safety and aesthetics, but poor planning can lead to light pollution in urban areas.
To tackle this, the government must ensure redevelopment projects align with community needs. Limits on noise and light should be set, and these regulations must be enforced. This could include penalties for failure to comply with the acceptable levels specified.
For development to be beneficial and sustainable, residents’ concerns and environmental issues must be considered. Prioritising the community is the way forward for a harmonious environment – for residents and businesses.
Your Voice: Making space for female skateboarders, celebrating the Lion Rock Spirit (short letters)
Get involved in sports
Tse Ki-hin, Lung Kong WFSL Lau Wong Fat Secondary School
Schools should encourage students to get involved in sports.
One way is to allow them to wear their physical education (PE) uniforms to school on days they have that class. Students can – and do – bring their PE uniforms to school to change into before a class, but the reality is that this is one more thing to carry on top of heavy books and study materials.
Asking students to bring their sports shoes, uniforms and accessories can be bothersome, leading to less interest in PE. If students are allowed to wear everything at the start of the day, it will be easier for them to be active both in and out of PE.
Educating students about the benefits of physical activity could push them to reflect on their daily movements and motivate them to get involved in sports. Schools could also reward active students by increasing their PE marks. This might encourage students focused on grades to become involved in sports.
Another way to get students involved in fitness is joint-school sports days – a great opportunity to create connections and healthy competition between peers.
By adjusting policies and organising events, schools can ensure a healthier student body.