Dear Editor,
A lot of people suggest that living in Hong Kong is actually a curse as it is so polluted here. Worse, it is politically unstable and there is a wide wealth gap. However, despite the above drawbacks, I believe living in Hong Kong is a blessing as this place gives us some unique edges that other countries do not have.
Having a relatively comprehensive education and medical system is definitely on the top of the list. Here in Hong Kong, children receive free education for 12 years. It saves parents a large sum of education fee and gives their children a firm foundation for learning. When teens grow up, they can compete against talents of other countries. Also, some universities in Hong Kong have a high ranking in the world, which allows students to receive quality education and to enrich their knowledge. For the medical system, it is quite an all-round one providing citizens with fine medication. Doctors in Hong Kong are so well-educated and have world class qualifications. Some may say that the stress on our medical and education systems is huge and there are flaws but I believe that everyone is well taken care of and no systems are perfect.
Apart from the systems in Hong Kong, its status of being an international center has given us the competitive edge. Hong Kong is always known as a place where cultures of different cultures coexist and inventions or new products are bred here. Think of the food we eat, the lifestyle we have, the clothes we wear, they are all influenced by other cultures and have our local flavor at the same time, which becomes our uniqueness. Also as Hong Kong was an entrepot, transferring into an international center now, we get to know different cultures in the world, which prepares us to accept one another, to accept each culture and to work on the international stage. When we work with people from other countries, we have less trouble fitting in as we can accept the differences and show respect to other cultures. This special advantage that we have makes us more adaptable and flexible at work. It enhances our competitiveness in the globe.
Other than that, we rarely encounter few natural hazards. Due to our geographical location, we do not have to experience devastating disasters. However, in other countries, for example in Japan and Taiwan, or just other parts in China, people there experience earthquakes quite often. In the US and Canada, people live in the fear of blizzards and tornados. It is lucky for us to live here, only experiencing typhoons, which sometimes give us an additional holiday and not much damage. It is with stable and safe environment that a city can develop well.
However, although I believe living in Hong Kong is a blessing, there is still a lot to do to improve and make Hong Kong a better place to live in.
Firstly, people in Hong Kong have to love and respect each other more. Nowadays there are conflicts everywhere in Hong Kong and people are forced to take sides. No matter whether it is politics, economy or social issues, there are bound to be conflicts due to different opinions and stances. This phenomenon is detrimental to Hong Kong as it destroys social harmony. We all should learn to respect one another despite our differences. Each of us has different values, stories and perspectives that should be respected. We should not force others to support our own views. If we can love and care about each other more, Hong Kong as a whole can benefit since people are more united and the city can focus on improving and developing instead of arguing. If we all wish to see a better Hong Kong, why don’t we work together and come up with a better solution? Conflicts can be resolved by love and respect, which are crucial to the healthy development and future prospect of Hong Kong.
Secondly, Hong Kong people have to care more about the society. People here often focus on their own business and do not care about the people in need. There are a lot of people having different problems that need our helping hands, for example, the elderly, the homeless and children being abused. If we all neglect these social issues and enjoy our own comfortable lives, Hong Kong will be a cold city. So, spare some time to be volunteers and help those who desperately need our help. Our actions may seem so small but to them, they can feel the love and care. I believe Hong Kong people’s hearts are not hard as stone. Let us do what we can within our limits and share our love with others.
After all, I think that living in Hong Kong is a blessing and we should all be grateful to live in this wonderful city. Yet at the same time, Hongkongers should be more loving and caring to each other and to the society in order to make Hong Kong a better place to live in.
Yours faithfully,
Chris
Chris Wong