Your Voice: Damage to Hong Kong proves typhoon day is nothing to celebrate; Gen Z embraces ‘old man style’ in China (short letters)

This school year started with an unexpected typhoon. As I woke up that day, celebrating, I quickly regretted my reaction to the tropical cyclone warning signal 10. The day after the typhoon was catastrophic. Trees and road signs fell to the ground. Branches were scattered across the streets. There was so much flooding that some residents had to evacuate, and many electrical appliances in shops were damaged.

Just as we thought the worst was over, another misfortune hit Hong Kong: the black rainstorm warning. This time, the aftermath was even worse. Roads were covered in mud, and flooding intensified. The MTR turned from a train into a ferry. Landslides made houses unstable. Many cars broke down. It felt like I was witnessing the movie The Day After Tomorrow in real life. The situation was terrifying.

As a student, I now understand that we should not celebrate when a typhoon or rainstorm grants us a holiday. Such thoughts are selfish, and we should consider the damage inflicted upon our city as a result of these natural disasters.

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Cheri Lau, Pope Paul VI College

I am writing about the “old man style” trend among young women in China. Oversized menswear has gained popularity among Gen Z women as they seek comfort over style to avoid body-shaming.

Compared to traditional women’s clothing that emphasises body shape, oversized clothes are more gender-neutral. They are seen as more inclusive and also allow people to express their personalities rather than focusing on their bodies.

We are encouraged to accept diverse body types, and the idea of there being one ideal shape, like that of a Barbie doll, is considered offensive. However, women’s clothing often focuses on unrealistic beauty standards or offers limited sizes, which can lead to body-shaming.

On the other hand, Gen Z is heavily influenced by social media, where people love to post beautiful selfies. It often promotes unhealthy ideas of body shape, causing teens to lose confidence in their bodies and resort to wearing oversized clothes as a way to cover up.

I also prefer oversized menswear. Body-shaming is not my primary concern. I choose it simply because it allows for easier movement. Perhaps this new fashion trend is driven by this simple yet compelling reason.

Thomas Yiu, King Ling College

In our highly competitive society, everyone experiences a certain level of stress. Over time, this continuous exposure to unpleasant emotions in stressful environments can lead to the build-up of anger. As a result, many critics associate anger with negative emotions.

Undoubtedly, anger can cause unpleasant incidents. For example, expressing anger falsely can lead to hatred between individuals or even countries, worsening relationships and potentially resulting in conflict. Thus, anger disrupts peaceful interactions.

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However, anger can also serve as a useful tool when expressed and handled correctly. If we accept anger as a natural emotion, it can act as a protective instinct, warning us of potential danger. By setting boundaries for our anger, we can use it to preserve ourselves and even resolve conflicts.

If left unchecked, intense anger can harm our physical and mental well-being. By maintaining self-awareness, we can learn to calm ourselves when enraged. However, what happens if we suppress our anger? Unaddressed anger accumulates, eventually consuming us and making it impossible to control our emotions. Therefore, it is crucial for us to express and manage our anger properly.

Jimmy Guan Changyi, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College

Recently, I read about the discovery of a distant planet suitable for human development. The planet is called KOI-4878.01. From its depiction, I can envision a bright future for humanity in space.

Space exploration has always captivated the human imagination, driving our progress. Space exploration allows us to unravel the mysteries of the universe. By studying distant planets, moons and stars, we gain insights into planet formation, the origins of life, and the laws of energy. These discoveries have the potential to revolutionise fields such as chemistry, biology and physics.

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As Earth’s resources become increasingly strained, space exploration offers the opportunity to explore extraterrestrial resources. Mining planets for rare metals, harnessing solar energy in space or extracting water from other planets could provide valuable resources for Earth.

The prospect of human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit and the colonisation of other planets ignites my imagination. Establishing sustainable habitats on the moon, on Mars, or even on KOI-4878.01 which is 1075 light years away, opens up possibilities for long-term human presence beyond our home, Earth.