Letters from readers: Care for animals, joys of television, life on a student council
Do you have something to share? Send us your letters using this form
Yeung Ka-yi (aged 9), PLK Choi Kai Yau School
Many pets are abandoned, so it is essential to think carefully before you get one.
Firstly, think about your time. Pets need attention and love. If you don't spend enough time with them, they feel lonely. For example, dogs need lots of care and playtime. If you want to get a dog, make sure you have time to walk and play with them.
Secondly, consider how much space you have. Pets need room to move and play.
Thirdly, think about your lifestyle. If you like staying home, an active dog might not be the best choice. You should choose a pet that fits how you live.
Yeung Ka-yi says one must think carefully before getting a pet. Photo: Handout
Haim Lee (aged 8), Kowloon Junior School
I'm here to tell you about my adventures through Year Four.
First, I wanted to tell you about the student council, which is a group of students who try to make the school a better place. I had a lot of ups and downs, but it turned out to be a wonderful place.
Next, I would like to tell you that I've been lonely and alone many times. I want to tell you the difference between those two words.
Alone is a choice but loneliness is not a choice; it's something you feel.
Haim Lee shares the adventures she had in Year Four. Photo: Handout
Elvia Lee Hong-kiu (aged 10), HKUGA Primary School
Statistics show that Americans watch more television than any other country in the world.
My parents can watch television for several hours a day. They usually watch Korean and Japanese dramas and the news. I watch television only when I am free. Sadly, I don't have much free time.
My mum says if I want to watch television, I must complete my homework first.
I enjoy watching documentaries with my family on Saturday nights because I can gain knowledge.
I love watching my favourite shows to relax.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
01-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Can we ever really be sustainable – or is it all performative?
In its infinite wisdom, PostMag tapped me to write something about sustainability. (Points thumb at own chest … 'Wait, what … Me?') So, ladies and gentlemen, here's the world's first sustainable, eco-friendly, green, carbon neutral and, of course, plant-based column. Advertisement First of all, any use of the descriptor 'sustainable' is preposterous and should be punishable by the forced use of ecological toilet paper. I think 'sustainable' should be replaced in almost all cases by 'Slightly Less Unsustainable – Really, Promise', (henceforth SLURP™). Marine pollution manager for WWF June Wong, collecting rubbish from a beach near WWF Island House in Tai Po, Hong Kong, in September 2021. Photo: Jonathan Wong A caveat: to provide insights into sustainability, I'm about as qualified as a vegan selecting medium rare: I'm a designer . That's a bit like asking a fracker to share his deep knowledge of forestry and the nesting habits of the double-crested dippity bird. Yet here we are. No kidding – all day, every day, I sit around thinking up and designing stuff that nobody needs. Yet another chair? OK! Another fancy restaurant? You betcha! As an irredeemable design-sinner, the best I can do to assuage my guilt is to design things I hope are desirable, durable and consume fewer resources to make, then pray that they will be appreciated and taken care of long enough to be fought over by somebody's grandchildren. In my book, designing things that stay out of a landfill is about as close to SLURP™ as any designer will ever get. Who among us does not have at least 26 bags-for-life? Photo: Shutterstock Of course, like most people I am SLURP™ when it's easy: I take public transport unless I don't feel like it, in which case I take a cab. I choose expensively ecological detergent for my plates and my clothes, and toothpaste squoze from happy plants. I usually remember to bring my own trendy cotton tote bag to the supermarket (I have eco-accumulated 26 of them to choose from, after all). But then I fill it with jet-fresh, Japanese fruit double-wrapped in padded plastic and stickered with happy cartoon characters; Kenyan green beans; polystyrene-plated and shrink-wrapped chunks of chilled meat hewn from once happily ozone-gassing Brazilian cows; and fancy cans of tomatoes flown in from San Marzano. Yeah, I know.
South China Morning Post
25-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
Japan ‘kept man' gains fame for being supported by 15 wealthy women, earns US$7,000 monthly
A Japanese man who has embraced the role of a full-time kept man for years, financially supported by as many as 15 wealthy women at one time, has garnered significant attention online due to his unique lifestyle, which allowed him to earn as much as 1 million yen (US$7,000) each month. Advertisement The man, identified as Takuya Ikoma, 31, went viral after sharing his personal experiences on his YouTube channel, which boasts around 3,000 followers. He stated: 'Everyone thinks being a 'kept man' means having money and free time, but managing 15 affluent women at once can be enjoyable, yet it's also incredibly tiring.' For instance, his videos demonstrate that before meeting wealthy clients, he took great care to present himself impeccably. This included applying make-up, grooming his hair, and selecting appropriate attire. Ikoma said that being a kept man is challenging, as he diligently prepares himself before meeting clients, which involves applying make-up, styling his hair, and choosing suitable clothing. Photo: Weixin At the homes of his clients, he engaged in a variety of activities, such as dining and drinking with them, engaging in conversation, providing emotional support, and fulfilling his role as a 'housekeeper'.
South China Morning Post
19-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
Selling comfort: ‘loneliness economy' emerges as more South Koreans live alone
Living alone in his early 40s after ending four years of marriage and getting divorced, Suh spends far more than 142,000 won (US$100) per month to buy premium food brands, get top-rated grooming services and pay insurance for his Maltese dog. Advertisement Suh acknowledges that he may be 'excessively' spending for his dog, considering 142,000 won was Korean pet owners' monthly average spending in the 2024 report released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Nevertheless, he finds such spending 'worthwhile as my dog helped me to get away from loneliness, which I previously struggled with after getting a divorce'. 'The joy and happiness that my dog brings as a lifetime companion is priceless, especially as I do not have kids and also rarely keep in touch with friends and families in recent years,' Suh said, declining to give his full name due to privacy concerns. Suh's unsparing financial commitment to his pet, according to economists, manifests a burgeoning 'loneliness economy' – a segment of goods and services that capitalise on people's feelings of isolation and social disconnection to make profits. A woman walks past a souvenirs shop in a tourist area in Seoul. Loneliness-driven businesses are closely associated with a fast-growing number of single-person households in South Korea. Photo: AFP Such loneliness-driven businesses include psychological counselling and therapy, dating apps and even controversial dating services in return for money. The businesses are closely associated with a fast-growing number of single-person households, including those who are unmarried, divorced or widowed, according to Shin Se-don, professor emeritus of economics at Sookmyung Women's University.
