Talking points: Should people who earn, or whose parents earn, more than a certain amount be forced to give away a percentage of their lai see this year?
- Hate it when you can’t talk back? Well, you can with Young Post. Have your say and share with students around Hong Kong
- This week teens discuss whether it should be a requirement to donate red packet money to the underprivileged
Do you think teens should donate some, or all, of their red packet money?I suppose those who can afford it should. Those who earn or whose parents earn more than a certain are very lucky, especially given how many people lost their jobs last year and are struggling with everyday expenses. If people whose parents earn a decent income donated some of their lai see, it would help less fortunate Hongkongers to ride out the storm. Yannie Yan
No. Instead, I think anyone who can afford it should spend some of their lai see on medical supplies, such as disinfection kits or face masks, for underprivileged families, elderly homes or charities that help ethnic minorities.
I would also like to spend some of my red packet money on personal care products to help the vulnerable to stay strong and safe during this difficult time. Siliva Wong Tsz-yan
Should male prisoners need to get a haircut when women don’t?
Yes. I am old enough to decide how to use my lai see money.
I would love to give 20 per cent of my red packet money to poor children who can’t even afford to buy a notebook, let alone pay for the other expenses involved in going to school.
Even if I only receive HK$100 in lai see this year, I’d still be happy to contribute some of it to the needy.
This way, I’d be sharing my luck and giving them hope. Hannah Wu Jiahui
No. Lai see is said to bring us good luck and blessings from our elders. If people were forced to give it away, I think this would be very disrespectful to their elders.
What’s more, I don’t think it’s fair to force teens to give away a certain amount. Parents also have expenses, and they give us lai see based on what they can afford.
While it is unfortunate that many people are suffering financially, we should not assume that those who earn more can afford to give money to strangers. Nobody should be allowed to dictate how other people spend their money. Elsie Lai
If you could get the Covid-19 vaccine tomorrow, would you?
I think they should. Lai see money is useless to people who are rich. They could donate that money to charity or people suffering from poverty.
It would not only financially help the underprivileged, but also give them a better position in society.
Something that means very little to you may mean a lot to other people.
Niki Ho Cheuk-yei
No, we shouldn’t. Red packets are blessings given to us by others. It’s not right to give away other people’s good intentions.
Instead, we should prepare other lai see with our own pocket money and give them to various charities in Hong Kong. This way, we are really doing good deeds based on our own free will.
Lam Mau-tsang
Our topics always get a lot of responses. Check out what other students had to say and join the conversation at scmp.com/yp.
Next week’s question: Should the government have given Hong Kong residents cash instead of vouchers in the latest budget?
Send your answers to [email protected] before midnight on Monday. Don’t forget to include “Talking Points” in the subject line, as well as your name, age and school.