The Nativity Story Crossword

Across
1. Another word for happiness.
3. The empire that controlled Bethlehem.
5. How many wise men were there?
6. The town where Jesus was born.
8. A messenger of God.
9. What the wise men followed to Bethlehem.
11. What Mary rode.

Down
1. Mary's husband.
2. A person who raises sheep.
4. The bed where Jesus slept.
7. Jesus' mother.
10. What Joseph had to pay.

FINISH THE CROSSWORD AND GET A PRIZE
CHRISTMAS ENGLISH DAY : COME TO THE HALL AT 1: 30 PM
LOADS OF CHRISTMAS GAMES ARE WAITING FOR YOU!

Drama Appreciation - Lady Windermere's Fan (PolyU)

The following 28 S4 & S5 students have been selected to join the drama show - Lady Windermere's Fan at PolyU on 17 February:

1 5A 15 CHENG PAK YU
2 5C 11 HO TSZ HIN JANINE
3 5B 05 CHENG TSZ WING
4 5B 01 CHAN HO YING
5 4D 07 LAM HOK YEE
6 5D 12 NG CHUI YU
7 5D 28 LEE YIU SHING
8 4B 36 LEUNG CHI KIU
9 5A 01 CHAN SIN TUNG
10 5A 07 LEUNG YUEN SIN
11 5A 04 FOK HAU CHING
12 5A 21 HO YU PANG
13 5A 31 MO KA HO
14 5A 05 HO CHIT YING
15 5A 02 CHAN TSZ WA
16 5E 13 LEUNG WING TUNG
17 5E 02 CHAN KA SIN
18 4B 35 LEE SING CHAK
19 4C 29 HEYWOOD LAU
20 4C 10 LEE HIU LAAM
21 4C 09 LAM TUNG CHING
22 4C 23 ZHANG WAN HUA
23 5C 01 CHAN KA LEE TINNY
24 4B 25 CHAN KING HO
25 4D 21 WONG LOK TING
26 5E 01 CHAN HO YING
27 5C 21 YAM HOI CHING
28 5A 23 LAI YU SUM

All students please remember to report to Ms. Ho at 5:45 p.m. at the canteen on 17 February.

5D NG PUI YEE, SAMMIE PEARL

You recently completed your summer job at Disneyland. The summer job was interesting from start to finish and you have learnt a lot from it. Write a letter to your sister in Canada describing your summer job, saying where you worked, giving the details of the job and describing your most memorable experiences there.

Dear Janet,

How do you do? I haven’t seen you for half a year, I miss you so much! However, I am not going to tell you about my school life, I want to tell you something about my summer job this year.

I have recently completed a summer job in Disneyland in this summer holiday. This job was great! It was very funny from the beginning till the end and I have learnt a lot which I can’t learn from my teachers.

I was a helper to help people who came to play. Many people asked me to help them take photos. Also, I have met a lot of people from other countries, so my English is improved by talking to them. Something you can’t believe there was a nice Japanese taught me to say Japanese to thank for my help on my last day in Disneyland.

The most memorable thing in Disneyland was about a little girl. She lost her way and she could not find her parents. When I saw her, she was crying and sitting on the floor. I brought her to our Helping Centre and asked an officer for help. Her parents came to her after half an hour, the little girl gave me a chocolate to give thanks to me. I was so happy to help her because she was the first one who needed my help at my work on the first day.

I must go to find another job after my exam next year. I want to work on more types of jobs to learn more techniques that can help me to communicate with different people or deal with different things in my future.

When will you be back to Hong Kong? I want to have a face to face chat with you. And I want to know about your live in Canada. Then, I will ask my father to go to Canada and find you.

Reply my letter or call me please. Hope you have a nice time in Canada. May God bless you.

Regards
Chris

Learning English through Sport Communication-One student, One sports team. (6A Law Yeung Yeung)

The recent proposal by the Sports Club that all students in our school should be required to join a sports team at school has aroused wide concern among students. Those people who are in favour of it opine that it is a good way to motivate students to do exercises regularly; those who stand on an entirely different ground conceive that it is an infringement of their human rights. Divergent as people’s views on this issue in question maybe, I am inclined to support this proposal.

First and foremost, it can encourage our students to exercise regularly. Our society has already been running out of motivation to do sports for a very long time, especially students! Our students, among hustle and bustle, do not have much spare time because of the heavy workload and the rapid pace of life. Even though they have some spare time, they prefer taking a rest in the bedroom or playing computer games to do exercise. Moreover, there is a serious shortage of sport facilities in our community. They lack the chances to exercise. All these are discouraging people from doing exercise.

Also accountable for this view is that sport is vitally important to every one’s health. It is undeniable that doing exercise is good for every individual’s health. Some significant health benefits such as building up better immune system and strengthening body functions are from time to time highlighted by health experts. Asking our students to join a sports team at school can probably benefit our students’ health a lot.

Another reason is that joining a sports team at school could also help to strengthen students’ team spirit. Most of the Sports Clubs in our school, ranging from the football team to swimming team, require students to cooperate and work together towards a common goal. Through team sports, teammates can nurture teamwork with each other by effectively communicating with teammates and a strong sense of belonging and team spirit is also developed. Apart from team spirit, most sports are done with others. It can also increase the chance of making more friends and enlarging our social circle.

Judging from the arguments presented above, I strongly subscribe to the idea that students in our school should be required to join a sport team. Nevertheless, in order to make the proposal acceptable to the wider school community, our school should have a comprehensive consultation on this issue before making the final decision.

Sex education should be a compulsory part of the secondary curriculum (6B Alex Luk)

Sex education imperative in secondary curriculum

'14-year-old girl being pregnant.’ ‘No sex education in secondary schools.’ In recent years, newspapers have been flooded with headlines as such. Not many years ago, the Hong Kong government also considers imposing sex education in the secondary school as a compulsory part. However, this can be a mixed blessing. Some are in favour of this notion because many teenagers nowadays seem to lack appropriate knowledge about sex. Despite this, in view of complex and hectic curriculum, whether sex education is made compulsory remains a big doubt. Both sides of the arguments are supported with sound reasons. It is worthwhile for us to examine why there is such a conflict and the following essay evaluates the pros and cons of it.

Imposing sex education compulsorily wastes time. It goes without saying that the new senior secondary curriculum is harsh due to the complicated, complex and bulky and content. More often than not, almost all teachers have to sacrifice their spare time to time students so as to tackle the public exam. Recent reports have stated, to many people’s surprise, that as many as 81 percent of secondary six students were extremely worried about their public exam on the grounds that not many of them have finished the whole curriculum. Therefore, they simply don’t have more time to be subjected to sex education.

Another argument against the imposition of sex education compulsorily is that it is useless to be done. I would like to raise a question. ‘Did our parents and teachers have lessons about sex education in their secondary schools?’ The answer is simply no. Consequently, the proposal seems to fail as human can learn sex education by themselves while growing up. Why can’t this new generation learn this by themselves?

However, whether imposing sex education compulsorily is a double-edged sword.

Nowadays, inappropriate information is more easily to teenagers owing to the advancement in technology. As we all know, teenagers are eager to explore themselves more in this stage. In addition, thanks to the rapid development in internet, most of us can easily get access to more information about sex. If they had received some pornographic photos or watches some uncensored videos, they development might have been adversely affected. Nevertheless, if they had received sex education in schools, they would have developed a sense that those messages are exactly wrong and then skipped those information.

Moreover, sex education not only includes physical aspect, but also includes mental and social aspect. As for the mental and social part, teens would learn how to get along with the others, especially with the opposite sex. What’s more, it also includes how to form a blissful family and play their roles. All these kinds of knowledge couldn’t be found in any subjects now. That’s why some suggest that sex education is imperative.

Judging from the arguments presented above, on balance, I am of the opinion that the advantages of imposing sex education compulsorily in secondary curriculum may offset some of the disadvantages. To put another way, students’ physical and mental developments are pivotal even reducing more time on studies. The government should not just look on with folded arms, instead, should give out more funds to schools to carry out sex education. There is an urgent need for the government to implement this in response to the growing youth problem arising from lack of sex-related knowledge.

Compensated Dating (6C Ng Kwok Ho)

Summary:

Compensated dating originated in Japan. It refers to the phenomenon that young girls accept money from men in exchange for their companionship. They seek patrons in forums by leaving personal information and some content of the dating. At least several hundred dollars can be earned in each dating. Therefore, it is a way to have extra income, but the risks are as much abundant. Since those girls face the strangers alone, those men may rob or kill the girls.

Comments:

For me, compensated dating must be banned as soon as possible. It is sad that those teenage girls say there are advantages behind compensated dating so they are engaged in the activity. Undoubtedly, disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Ah Yan, one of the girls who was once engaged in compensated dating that she had to face a high risk because she might not be able to deal with a perverted customer and may be ill-treated or even killed as a result.

On the other hand, since sexual intercourse may be involved, girls may contract venereal disease. I believe it is really bad to be involved in compensated dating, girls should not take the risk to go on compensated dating.

To tackle this social problem, what parents should do is to pay more attention to the needs of their children’s financial status. They should find out the reasons why their children suddenly become rich. Our government may also monitor the chat rooms and forum in the Internet since most compensated girl seek their clients there.

However, the most effective solution is to help the girls think positively about themselves. They should reflect on the values of money. Besides, they have to find the correct way to face their loneliness. For example, they may chat with social workers or try more ways to make some friends in sports and music activities.

My Diary (6D Chiu Pui Fan)

Today when you went to the washroom at recess, you saw a group of Secondary 3 students smoking in the toilet. Write an entry in your diary describing what you saw, what you did and how you felt about the incident.


Dear diary

What will you do if you see a teenager smoking? Today, when I went to the washroom at recess, I saw a group of secondary 3 students smoking in the toilet.

At the first recess, Chris and I went to the toilet together. When we walked into it, I could smell and feel cigarette smoke all over the femal toilet. “Bang!” The door of a toilet stall was kicked and we were frightened by this big sound! Although we didn’t press our faces against the door of that toilet stall, we also could hear the girls, who were inside the toilet stall, called each other bad names and used foul language! We ignored them, it was because we were really scared! After a few minutes, when I wanted to go outside, the group of secondary 3 students came out from the toilet stall. I looked back to the girls. I saw one of them threw her cigarette on the floor, after, she got a new one out of the pack and lighted it up. I felt really angry! I told Chris, “Don’t let them go.” And I went to staff room to find. Mrs. Wong. Of course, Mrs. Wong caught them.

Honestly, I felt scared in this incident. However, I was more angry than afraid!

Although they weren’t taking drugs, smoking is harmful to health, it is a hard fact. Maybe, this group of girls thought “Smoking is my business!”, but we know, ciagrette smoking can affect the environment, such as the growth of plants and cause the global warming. Moreover, I think they should respect the feelings of others, secondhand smoke can harm non-smokers – other students. I think they learnt a lot of common sense in the biology lessons, inhaling secondhand smoke is more harmful than inhaling first-hand smoke! And smoking will bring the risk of lung cancer, gum disease, or effects women’s reproductive health.

By the way, I think the tennagers will not smoke cigarettes suddenly. Maybe, they were initating their parents or their favorite idols. Maybe, their friends encouraged them to smoke. Maybe, the teenagers had too much pressure. I think the parents and teachers play a central role in combating underage smoking. They should pay attention to students’ emotion, and help the teenagers to solve the problems or presssure. Futhermore, the celebrities are the public figures, I think they shouldn’t smoke and be a role model for young people.

Learn & Fill

Could the Internet be collapsed?

NSS English for Empowerment Course

The following 17 S4 & S5 students have been admitted to the NSS English for Empowerment Course after the interviews conducted on 1/12:

4A 6 HO MAN YING
4A 37 YAU TSZ FUNG
4B 13 NG TSZ YING
4B 36 LEUNG CHI KIU
4B 12 NG KEI YAN
4B 7 LAI HOI CHING
4B 6 CHUNG WING YIN
4B 18 TSE WAI YIN
5D 23 FAN HO YIN
4B 25 CHAN KING HO
5A 37 WAN CHI CHUN IAN
4B 38 LEUNG NOK HANG
5B 4 CHENG CHEE KWAN
5B 6 CHEUNG LOK HEI
4B 35 LEE SING CHAK
5A 7 LEUNG YUEN SIN
5C 3 CHENG HIU TUNG

All students please remember to report to your teacher, Ms. Leong, at 8:55 a.m. on 4/2, 11/2, 3/3, 10/3, 17/3, 24/3, 31/3, 21/4, 5/5 & 12/5. (The room(s) will be announced later.)

S2 Christmas English Enrichment Class

The following S2 students have been admitted to the Christmas English Enrichment Class:

2E 7 LEE KA HANG
2E 24 LEE YAT HIM
2B 24 TANG CHEUK TING
2B 14 YEUNG HOI TING
2C 3 CHAN YEE SUM
2C 8 LO LOK MING
2C 24 TO KIU FUNG
2C 25 TONG KING HANG
2F 5 LAM CHO YU
2D 19 LEUNG KA MING
2E 23 LEE HO LAM
2F 7 LEE HO YI
2F 17 CHEUNG TIN LONG
2C 22 NG SIU HANG
2D 4 CHOW TSE YAN
2F 8 LEUNG NOK TUNG

All students please remember to report to Rm 201 (Venue Updated) at 10:45 a.m. on 23/12, 28/12, 29/12 & 30/12.

S1 Christmas English Enrichment Class

The following S1 students have been admitted to the Christmas English Enrichment Class:

1B 8 FUNG WAN HEI
1A 7 LAU YAN CHING
1A 21 CHEUNG HIU YEUNG
1A 29 TO WAI TSUN
1B 31 WONG MAN KIT
1A 18 WONG CHEUK YIU
1C 11 LI CHING WAI
1C 21 AU YEUNG KAI TIK
1A 13 NG YEE SUM
1C 6 CHOI SUNG YIU
1B 33 WU MAN HON
1C 32 TONG HO WANG
1A 8 LAU YUET CHING
1B 9 HO HIU MAN

All students please remember to report to Rm 201 (Venue Updated) at 8:55 a.m. on 23/12, 28/12, 29/12 & 30/12.

High-speed Train Accident in China (6A Au Ka Ho)

Comment:
It seemed that it was an accident. Actually, after the accident there was another story. In fact, I here express my sadness about the accident happened, but more sadly was that in order to ensure the high-speed train could work as soon as possible, the Chinese government disregarded human life. The work of searching and rescuing still had not been finished yet, but the government just stopped the action. That’s very inhumane.
Prime Minister Wen Ka Po always says that our country is human-centred, but how about now? Saying one thing and doing another. So how can we trust our country with this irresponsible action? Of course not!
However, there was a piece of news that’s good for the relatives of the victims in this event. That’s the first compensation deal which has been struck between authorities and relatives of victims. Although it is better to get back the lives of the victims rather than money, we knew that it is impossible. A little is better than none. I hope that the relatives of the victims can accept the compensation and live their lives to the fullest.
We always encounter many kinds of difficulties in life. Some people would like to end their lives while some people want to look at the bright side. We should face any kinds of problems optimistically so that we could have a positive life.

English Speaking Course (1st Cohort)

The following students have been admitted to the English Speaking Course (1st Cohort):

5 December (4 p.m. - 5 p.m.)

- Tong Ho Wang (1C)
- Yeung Hoi Ting (2B)

12 December (4 p.m. - 5 p.m.)

- Lau Yan Ching (1A)

19 December (4 p.m. - 5 p.m.)

- Lam Yik Lai Austin (4A)
- Ng Kei Yan (4B)

All students please remember to report to Ms. Sue Leong at Rm G11.

Interviews for Applicants for the NSS English for Empowerment Course

The following students are invited to attend selection interviews on 1/12 as stated in the letters to their parents. The details are as follows:

(Class - Student No. - Name - Arrival Time - Room)

1 4A 6 HO MAN YING 3:50 G14
2 4A 37 YAU TSZ FUNG 3:55 G14
3 4B 11 MAK NGO CHING 4:00 G14
4 4B 13 NG TSZ YING 4:05 G14
5 4B 36 LEUNG CHI KIU 4:10 G14
6 4B 12 NG KEI YAN 4:15 G14
7 4B 7 LAI HOI CHING 4:20 G14
8 4B 6 CHUNG WING YIN 4:25 G14
9 4B 18 TSE WAI YIN 4:30 G14
10 5D 23 FAN HO YIN 4:35 G14
11 4B 25 CHAN KING HO 4:40 G14
12 5A 37 WAN CHI CHUN IAN 4:45 G14
13 4A 25 LAM YIK LAI 4:50 G14
14 4B 38 LEUNG NOK HANG 4:55 G14
15 5B 4 CHENG CHEE KWAN 5:00 G14
16 5B 6 CHEUNG LOK HEI 5:05 G14
17 4B 35 LEE SING CHAK 5:10 G14
18 5A 7 LEUNG YUEN SIN 5:15 G14
19 5C 3 Yim Choi Hung 5:20 G14

Students should arrive at Rm. G14 on time and inform their parents of the interviews. If they fail to attend the interviews, they will not be able to join the course. They may contact Mr. Kung Chun Kei if they have any enquiries.

Food for Thought (6E Leung Wing Yee & 6E Lau Ka Yee)

(1) News Article: Gaddafi Loyalists Fight to the End
Leung Wing Yee (6E)

Summary:
This article is about the civil war happened in Libya. Till now, the rebels claimed to be in control of most of Tripoli after a lightning advance on the capital and the declaration of the end of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule. The rebels went out to celebrate their victory and the alliance promised to maintain its air campaign until all pro-Gaddafi forces surrender or return to barracks.

Comments:
No matter which side “wins” finally, it’s totally a tragedy. This rebellion has lasted for months. Many people including civilian soldiers and rebels died in this civil war. This cost is too high. Nothing can be more valuable than life.

I remembered the beginning of the war was just a civil war between the Gaddafi’s government and the rebels. But finally, it became an “international” war. The alliance blamed Gaddafi for his armed suppression and used this as an excuse to intervene militarily. The rebels might think they had got a helping hand but actually, the alliance created a mess for Libyan people. None of the two sides wanted to give in. They just couldn’t work out the solution and could only fight each other. Without any doubts, the air strike of the alliance has aggravated the clash between two sides. Although the suppression by Gaddafi was absolutely wrong, how about the alliance’s air strike? They even used the excuse of tracking down Gaddafi to provide arms for the rebels. Although it might be difficult, why didn’t they solve the problem in a peaceful way? At least, they should try their best to do so. It’s always not easy to be a peacemaker. I hope the alliance would finally help the Libyan people by ending the conflict peacefully. A helping hand instead of bombs should be given to the people.



(2) News Article: The Earthquake in Japan
Lau Ka Yee (6E)

Summary:

After the earthquake stuck Japan, a lot of victims have been suffering from the pain of losing their families and homes. Besides, there are so many people who want to show their support for the people in Japan. Some of them found a way to do so by folding origami paper cranes. Paper cranes mean good luck, happiness and peace in Japan.

Comments:

Hong Kong is really a lucky place with not many natural disasters. Now, Japan is suffering from a disaster. The Japanese need our help to overcome the problems caused by the earthquake. Some of the Hong Kong people will donate money to help the victims or even go to the disaster zone and help to rebuild the houses. Yet, perhaps the most important thing is that we will try to help them by all means. Though we may not go to Japan but our hearts are with the Japanese. We can do some things that encourage them to be strong. If you are thoughtful enough, you can do some things for them like writing them letters and cards. They can feel your love and care.

Writing (7A Tang Chin Ching, Rachel)

Elderly people are our beloved friends in our society. In the bygones days, contributing to the world, these senior citizens are worth enjoying their blomming lives in retirement. Nowadays, however, disheartening experiences are faced; solitary elders and inadequate welfare are the most lamentable phenomenon in this society.

“Solitary elders” the elders who live alone without any help or concern from their relatives. This distressing problem is induced by the indifference of the elders’ children. Looking after their parents is the fundamental responsibility. These people, however, evade this duty which should be shouldered by themselves deservedly. Some of them consider living with the elderly as a heavy burden which is very annoying. It may be regarded as a waste of money in some unfiliar child’s eyes. Shan Shui Po, an epicentric of solitary elders revealed this graves phenomenon to us. A solitary elder needs to face many difficulties that we have never imaged. From dancing alone in the living room, cooking for themselves, rescuing themselves even there are accidents. All these problems can harm the senior citizens, not only in physical condition, but mental one. This harms our elders, mirroring our failure on morality and education.

Inadequate welfare is another sorrow that the elders are facing. The only welfare that can really support their lives is the old age allowance. HK$1035 is provided by the government every month in order to acknowledge our adoration to the senior citizen. Nevertheless, as the problem of solitary elders intensified this allowance becomes a mainstay to the old to live. A strong contrast when we compare the

situation in Hong Kong and Sweden. The Swedish Government provides sufficient welfare to the elders. The expenditure on creating a barrier-free-environment is unlimited. It reveals that the Swedish Government is unlimited. It reveals that the Swedish Government has spared no pains on caring the old. When we take a closer look at the content of Hong Kong’s old age allowance, we will find that it is of no sufficiency for an elder to live. A breakfast in a restaurant costs 20 dollars food from the market cost 30 dollars. Transportation costs 10 dollars per day. There are still costs that are not included. However, the elder is only able to spend 30 dollars daily. What a hard life they have!

Pampering the elderly with love and care, we, both government and citizens should uphold the following ideas to lift the living standard of the old. The government can channel more and more resources to the elderly. The amount of the allowance on elderly should be expanded. The government can refer to the elderly policy of Sweden. Infinite fund should be provided to create a barrier-free-environment. Removal of bath and replacement of shower, installation of handrails beside toilet, these facilities can escalate the home safety. We, as citizens, should shoulder our duty to give our concern to the elders, especially the solitary elders. We can visit our neighbor and comprehend what they need. We can cook meals, prepare the requisite medicine, and dispose the waste for them. To us, we just lift a finger, but a staggering appreciation from the old.

The government tries to “help” the family to take care of the elders, rather than “replace” the family to take care of the elders. No matter how much the government or the community does if their children refuse to shoulder their own responsibility, all what we done is zero. As a son or daughter, we should always be grateful to our parents for providing love and care when he are still kids. It is time for us to repay our pampered elder to show them with love and care.

'Growing Together’ Pilot Project

Give thanks! We have joined the ‘Growing Together’ pilot project organised by the British Chamber of Commerce and HSBC. With their help, we will build a micro-garden and learn more about environmental sustainability through organic plant cultivation on campus. We will also share our yields and experience with students of our partnership school, Renaissance College, and other schools (e.g. St. Paul’s Convent School).

Below are the students who have joined this flagship programme:

1D 15 SIU WAI CHING
2C 05 CHU WAI FONG
2D 07 KOO MEI SHAN
2D 05 CHU CHEUK YING BERYL
2D 01 CHAN TSZ MAN
2D 06 HSIE KA MEI MAY
3A 06 CHUNG WAI YEE
3B 24 FUNG LEE MING
3B 08 KWONG WAN TUNG NATALIE
4A 06 HO MAN YING
4A 09 TANG SIN YEE
4B 31 HUNG SZELON
4B 36 LEUNG CHI KIU
4B 12 NG KEI YAN
5A 37 WAN CHI CHUN IAN
5A 09 NG KA PO
5A 23 LAI YU SUM
5B 01 CHAN HO YING
5B 26 LAU PAK HEI
5B 33 PUN TAK KONG
5C 02 CHAN PUI WING
5D 10 LEE KA PO

A new teacher, our new friend (2E Lam Lok Yin)

In this new year, there are many new teachers in our school. However, do you know them well? We would like to introduce a teacher to you. Who is the teacher? ------Miss Cheung Yuen Ting, Jasmine.

Miss Cheung is a young teacher who is only twenty-something now. She was a translator before but she thought this job was too boring. She gave up this job and planned to teach English since then. She believed that English is so important and can help us to communicate with others.

So why did Miss Cheung choose our school? Miss Cheung told us that it is because of the Christian belief of Ma Ko Pan, and the good reputation of our school is also a contributing factor. We asked Miss Cheung whether she has taught junior students before, she smiled to us, and answered us 'I haven't, but I am the English teacher of two classes of F.2 this year. Is this a big challenge to her? What is the different between junior form and senior form? Miss Cheung answered us, ' Of course! Junior students are funny. They need more activities and games while learning new things. How are the students of Ma Ko Pan in Miss Cheung’s eyes? ‘I think Ma Ko Pan students are hard-working and self-disciplined. They are also very active because most of them have joined different extra-curricular activities.’ Oh, we have given such a good image to Miss Cheung and made her happy for this.

To be good teachers, they must have their own target to reach. Also, the image what they establish in students' eyes is important too. What is the image of Miss Cheung want to build up? 'I want to be a teacher as well as a friend of students. Also, I hope to be friendly and caring.' Miss Cheung really wants to be a good teacher and help us, right? If you need to use few words to describe yourself, what would you like to use? Miss Cheung described her as a quiet and optimistic person, always feeling gratitude for everything and fond of teaching and learning.' Smile is important to us. If the teacher doesn't like smiling, the atmosphere will be strange, right? Miss Cheung likes teaching with her passionate heart. We think that she devotes to teaching.

In this face-to-face interview, we have known more about Miss Cheung. Miss Cheung has a beautiful heart for teaching. She has great preparation for every lesson. She wants us to learn more things in each lesson to enrich our knowledge. Therefore, she always asks whether we have any problem in class. She wants to be a teacher and friend of us. Schoolmates, after you have read this Ma Ko Pan Daily, have you known more about Miss Cheung? We will support Miss Cheung all the time, won't you? :)

Elderly problems in Hong Kong (7B Many Chud)

Nowadays, elderly people face many difficulties, such as poverty, unemployment and lack of retirement protection. There is an increasing number of elderly people who rely on the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance from the Government for their livelihood. Moreover, reports of physical and psychological abuse of old people by family members are on the rise. In this essay, I would like to discuss the difficulties elderly people face nowadays and suggest ways that the Government, community groups and families can do to solve the problems.

First of all, many elderly people suffer from different chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease. When people are getting old, their body functions may become worse; they may easily suffer from various illnesses. What is more, their immune system may become weaker; once they suffer from an illness, it usually takes a long time for them to recover. Thus, health problems are one of the challenges elderly people have to face.

Secondly, the elderly are experiencing a changing lifestyle. When people retire, their lifestyle change; they will have more free time than before. If they do not have any interests or hobbies or they simply have nothing to do, they will feel bored and some, especially males, may find themselves useless. Emotional problems may occur and this will in turn affect their physical condition.

Thirdly, some elderly people are living in poverty. It is not uncommon to see elderly people scavenge paper boxes and cans on the street. These elderly people have to rely on scavenging to maintain their livelihood. They are helpless and lonely people. Some may think they had not saved enough money for retirement, but this is not true. The truth is they were very hardworking people when they were young, but because of high inflation rate, the money they had saved shrank in value. Whatever the reason is, the problem of poverty is still haunting some of our elderly people.

The above three are just some of the difficulties elderly people face. Now, I would like to put forward some suggestions as to how the Government, community groups and families can help.


First, medical services are very important, especially in an aging population. It is vital for the Government to expand its medical services so that all the elderly get the treatment they need. With the expansion, the waiting time for a consultation in public hospitals can also be shortened, which means the elderly do not have to spend hours waiting and thus have more time to rest. Also, if there is more manpower in the public health care system, I suggest that a body check be given to the elderly once a year so that early symptoms of different diseases can be detected. A strong and capable health care system is essential to ensure a healthy aging community.

Second, the Government should expand the budget for social security schemes for the elderly. The elderly had contributed a lot to society when they were young; they should enjoy a happy life in their old age without worrying about money. The Government should also build more nursing homes for the aged so as to provide those who are unable to take care of themselves with nursing care. Different community groups can also help to ease the elderly problems by being more involved in elderly services. They can organize more activities and short trips for the elderly. Home visit is also a very important part in elderly services. The community groups can visit the elderly, especially those who are living in solitude, chat with them and help them buy daily necessities so that they feel love and care.

According to a recent survey, the elderly wish to spend time with their family more than anything else. So, family members should spend more time with them. Having a meal with them or chatting with them already makes them very happy. The elderly face different challenges in their life and they may need help from the government or community groups, but it is the love and care from their family that they want most.

To give the elderly a better, dignified life, the Government, community groups and families should join hands and work together. The Government should expand its medical services and elderly services in order to improve the living condition of the elderly; community groups should be more involved in elderly services; families should spend more time with their elderly and take better care of them. The elderly people are facing a lot of problems and it is everyone’s responsibility to try to ease these problems. I believe with concerted efforts we will build a warm and loving environment for the elderly.