Should Historical Monuments be Safeguarded, or Disappear for Good?

Man Yu Hin (6A)

In the contemporary discourse regarding preserving historical monuments, there is a fierce debate over whether the government should invest in preserving historical monuments or allocate the funds to address social issues. While it is true that our society is facing housing issues, an aging population, and economic problems, preserving historical monuments is equally significant, and the long-lasting impacts of this should never be neglected.

To begin with, historical monuments can foster cultural identity. They can cultivate social cohesion and unity, bringing people with the same cultural background together, bolstering harmony and mutual understanding in society. If the government channels funds into the preservation of historical monuments, it shows that the government cares about our cultural identity and supports the connections among citizens. Moreover, having well-preserved historical monuments can bolster a sense of belonging to the community they live in. Citizens can feel a sense of pride in their own culture and be deeply connected with their cultural roots. They will never feel marginalized or neglected by the government and local community. For example, the Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan worships the gods of literati (Man) and War (Mo) from ancient Chinese culture. We, as Chinese, should always be proud of our history and cultural background.

Another noteworthy point is that preserving historical heritage can emphasize our own cultural significance, fostering respect and appreciation from foreigners. To cite tourism in Tai O as an example, the government not only funds the maintenance of the stilt houses in the fishing hamlet but also invites local citizens to guide tourists, telling them the history of Tai O. Through these methods of preservation, foreign tourists can gain an in-depth understanding of our cultural background and the value of our historical monuments. Apart from fostering mutual understanding and respect, preserving historical monuments can result in an influx of visitors to these places, which can directly translate into financial support for the locals. This synergy allows for the preservation of historical monuments alongside a thriving economy.

Nevertheless, some people argue that we must prioritize addressing pressing social issues rather than focusing solely on preservation. Hong Kong is notorious for high housing prices and a high cost of living, which can have significant detrimental effects in the long run. In terms of housing, Hong Kong has held the title for the most expensive real estate in the world for 14 consecutive years since 2010. The average wait time for public housing is 4.1 years, leaving many citizens in precarious living situations. While preserving historical monuments is important, it should not come at the expense of improving the living conditions of our residents. Furthermore, the high cost of living directly contributes to the alarmingly low fertility rate in Hong Kong. This low fertility rate poses significant challenges for the future of the city. An aging population and a shrinking workforce can lead to increased economic strain, with fewer workers to support the elderly and contribute to the economy. These urgent challenges demand the government's immediate attention—preservation initiatives can no longer take precedence.

As for the methods of preserving heritage to ensure it is not neglected, there is a smorgasbord of ways. Firstly, the government should invite local citizens, experts, and conservationists to take part in the process. As aforementioned, the government invites local citizens of Tai O to give guided tours to tourists, enlightening them about the cultural background and culinary delights of the village. Through this approach, citizens may feel valued by the government and increase their willingness and awareness of preservation among the general public. They can understand that they play a vital role in preserving heritage. Moreover, the locals are the most familiar with their community, and involving them in preservation practices can enhance the efficiency of the efforts.

Secondly, it is not uncommon to see numerous movies filmed next to or inside historical monuments. For example, Transformers involves a scene at the Stone Walls, one of the wonders of the world, in Chile. By encouraging directors to film at historical sites, viewers can have the opportunity to learn about them, igniting an interest to visit and explore these locations. By utilizing movies, viewers from around the world can gain knowledge of the historical heritage involved, further ensuring that it will not be neglected.

Thirdly, the government can place a stronger emphasis on promotion and education. Through promoting and introducing the concept of preservation, citizens can understand the significance of our historical heritage and the reasons they are worth preserving. Documentaries like Dianna's Trip to Japan broadcast by the BBC have aroused people's strong interest in Japan's intriguing culture and magnificent historical monuments like shrines and temples. Similarly, the Hong Kong government can fund local media to promote our own heritage using the same concept.

To encapsulate, the preservation of heritage can bolster cultural identity, enhance social cohesion, and foster mutual understanding. Nonetheless, the government should also tackle social issues alongside preservation. Let's tell the “good story of Hong Kong” together!

Why Should Schools Not Keep Exotic Animals?

Lai Yin Man, Claudia (6B)

Dear President,

As a member of the Green Club, I am writing to express my opposition to the idea of keeping exotic animals at school. In recent years, keeping exotic animals as pets has become more popular in many countries. One of the advantages of doing so is that it can attract people’s attention and serve as an interesting discussion topic among friends. However, these benefits immediately become negligible when we consider the disadvantages of keeping exotic animals on campus.

First and foremost, exotic animals need special care, but our school may not be able to offer comfortable accommodation to them. Exotic animals live in natural habitat which has specific temperature and moderate humidity that are ideal for their survival and well-being. For instance, monkeys should stay in a place which has many trees for them to climb. If they are removed from this comfortable environment, they will be at risk of serious mental problems like anxiety and self-mutilation. Consequently, we must provide suitable environment for them, but our campus does not have plenty of space. Moreover, exotic animals require special diets, be they insects or specific plants. However, it is hard to handle and prepare their meal at school. Worst still, when they consume unsuitable diets, it might lead to health problems. As vets specializing in exotic animals must have professional skills and knowledge about exotic animals, the treatment can be very costly and it will increase the financial burden of schools. As we can see, exotic pets are expensive to raise and take care of.

Apart from that, exotic animals might pose a serious threat to students’ safety. It will lead to not only physical health risks but also mental health issues. The majority of exotic animals are large in size and dangerous. The typical examples are lions, crocodiles and snakes. They may be aggressive and cause serious injury to students. Therefore, students may feel anxious about studying with these big animals in the same campus. Also, if exotic animals really hurt students, our school needs to bear serious consequences. Therefore, keeping exotic animals might affect students’ mental and physical health. Worst still, students would not be willing to go to school, which can result in poor academic performance.

Not only would keeping exotic animals affect students’ personal safety, but it would also cost a lot of time. I understand that giving a chance to students to learn how to take care of animals is very precious, but schools need to take care of them for a long time. Since many exotic animals have long lifespan, ranging from 30 years for lions to 20 years for pandas. It means schools need to have a long-term commitment to taking care of them. Besides, there are many daily care tasks to do, including feeding and cleaning animals. Those exotic animals require more time and attention than ordinary pets. Therefore, we should not keep exotic animals on campus considering the huge time cost the schools need to incur.

To conclude, keeping exotic animals at school is unrealistic. It brings barely any benefits to students. I hope our school will take parents’ opinions into consideration and reassess the feasibility of the idea.

Yours faithfully,
Chris Wong

Drones for Food Delivery - Should They be Used?

Chan Ho Kwan (6C)

In today's society, it's worth noting that not only are humans evolving, but so are machines. The people of the 19th century predicted that there would be flying cars by 2024, but the current state of affairs has already failed to fulfil their expectations. Nevertheless, we have invented a kind of controllable flying object - drones. With that, people have discovered different ways to use these tiny, portable flying devices. In China, tech giants have found a new way to deliver food by drone. Food delivery company Meituan intends to introduce this drone food delivery system in Hong Kong. But why? Why should it be introduced in Hong Kong? And what is the potential impacts on the local food industry?

What is a food delivery drone? First of all, these drones are not controlled by humans. Rather, they are controlled by a programme that flies them around the city and delivers food from A to B. Even if it sounds simple on paper, behind the scenes there are countless people working to monitor these machines.

So why are food delivery drones being introduced in Hong Kong? Hong Kong is known for its very dense urbanisation. As a result, every piece of land is covered by this concrete jungle, making the streets resemble a maze. But fear not, with the introduction of drones for food delivery, they can fly low over this jungle to deliver food to customers. This is real proof that the advancement of technology has improved people's lifestyles by making their lives easier and giving them what every Hongkonger cherishes: time.

Although Hong Kong has already fully been urbanised, I believe it is time for us to take a step further, a step into a new era, a time when technology takes over our lives and helps us to do our daily chores, in this case delivering food from restaurants to our homes. Food delivery by drones can not only shorten the delivery time but also reduce the food delivery budget for local restaurants.

Firstly, the use of drones for food delivery can increase the profit of local restaurants. Since drones are cost-effective to operate, they offer a more sustainable alternative for food delivery. Compared to food delivery apps such as Food Panda or Uber Eats, the use of drones for food delivery is a real game changer. Not only are they faster, but they also offer a better customer experience. Imagine travelling on the road and seeing these drones flying over the city. This will certainly attract more customers to the restaurant, because they too want to enjoy the "fly to your mouth' experience. All in all, the use of drones is like an investment, an investment that always returns the money invested instead of losing it.

Secondly, one of the key factors in the popularity of a restaurant is the customer experience. If your service is poor, not only will you get bad reviews, but you will also lose your restaurant. With the introduction of food delivery by drone, customers can receive their meal efficiently without having to worry about the food being delayed. This allows restaurant owners to focus on the delicious food and less on the food delivery. Plus, there's no doubt that seeing your food waiting for you outside the window to be consumed will make your day. If not, this will improve the customer experience and attract more customers to the restaurant.

Despite the advantages of food delivery by drone, there are also some disadvantages to consider. First and foremost, delivery by drone poses a potential danger. As we all know, these drones usually fly at low altitudes but can still cause fatal damage if they fall on us. There have been several reports of drones malfunctioning in the air and falling on pedestrians in the street. Therefore, the use of drones for food delivery should not be disregarded as you may one day be the victim of a drone falling from the sky.

Furthermore, the use of drones for food delivery may lead to an increase in air traffic. If all food companies use drones for food delivery, wouldn't this become the new highway in the sky? If more drones are in use, won't the accident rate of drones colliding with each other increase? As these drones are not controlled by humans, the sky network will be so busy that drones could fail more frequently due to loss of signal. In addition, the increased number of drones flying could also interfere with aircraft landing or entering the atmosphere. Soon, drones will be an obstacle where aeroplanes will have to fight their way to land on runways. Who will be responsible for the injuries and problems caused? The victims? Or the restaurant owner?

All in all, the use of drones for food delivery is truly innovative as it has revolutionised the way food delivery works. Despite the main advantages of food delivery drones, the disadvantages of drones should not be forgotten. The use of drones for food delivery is still a new technology. Perhaps when drones are developed, we will soon have invented flying cars.

Importance of Giving Help

Hui Ngon Chuen (6D)

A Remarkable Experience

20th September, 2024

It struck me that this experience was remarkable and rewarding. No one could have guessed how this experience would change my attitudes towards life.

Last Saturday, as a diehard Pixar fan, I planned to watch the newly-released movie Inside Out 2 with my friend, Chris. Feeling excited, I arrived at the cinema 20 minutes earlier to grab a popcorn combo, eagerly waiting for Chris to arrive.

Suddenly, I noticed a foreigner, seemingly in his fifties, rummaging through his bag in distress. At first, I tried to ignore him, but after a moment, he approached me. He hastily explained to me that he was a tourist and he had lost his wallet which contained his British ID card and money. As he didn’t speak Cantonese, he was desperately seeking my help. At the very beginning, I hesitated as the movie was about to start and Chris hadn’t arrived yet. However, on second thoughts, how could I turn my back on someone in need? I suggested revisiting the places he had visited. At that moment, little did I know that he had spent an entire morning shopping in Causeway Bay. In the subsequent 45 minutes, I had no choice but to search for his wallet from shop to shop along Hennessy Road and Lockhart Road. I accompanied him all the way. Eventually, we found the wallet in a coffee shop. He was so grateful for my assistance.

If I had not helped him, he would not have found his wallet in time. If he had not found his wallet in time, he would have needed to change his flight. More unfortunately, he would have been in a mad panic.

Although I missed the movie and ended up treating Chris to a meal as compensation, I felt deeply fulfilled. In fact, there was nothing as grateful as seeing him attend his niece’s wedding banquet on time in the UK.

After this incident, I truly believe that no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. From this day onwards, I will definitely help people around me without hesitation. I am determined to be a better version of myself.