Buffalo Bill
18th June 2009, 09:50 AM
South china Morning Post "Talkback"
Jun 18, 2009
Much as I support the idea that the Christian Zheng Sheng College needs to find premises somewhere to house its students, I do feel that Lantau residents should have first priority when it comes to the use of the school premises.
On Lantau, we have no fewer than 800 students from primary to secondary level, and a great majority of them have to travel for a couple of hours every school day to and from town.
We even have primary school students taking the kai-to to Discovery Bay to study.
That is how inadequate the situation is in southern Lantau when it comes to school places.
If the government chooses to be merciful and allow the premises to become a school again for the education of Lantau Island children, we would even be able to accommodate students from the neighbouring island of Peng Chau. It is, after all, only 15 minutes away by inter-island ferry.
We can use the school for both primary and secondary students.
Could the students of the drug-rehabilitation school not be given premises in Tai O, where there are also empty schools crying out to be used?
Or does the government have a hidden agenda somewhere for Mui Wo and southern Lantau? If that is the case, then it is high time our administration explained that agenda to the residents of Mui Wo and southern Lantau.
Reverend Edwin Pun, Lantau
I felt so sorry for the students of Christian Zheng Sheng College when I watched the television news reports on Sunday evening. Mui Wo villagers appeared to be contradicting themselves ("Villagers angry but supportive over rehab centre", June 15).
Some were screaming and children were holding up signs. But then they were hugging the students from the Christian Zheng Sheng College and showing how supportive they were of them.
Mui Wo villagers have to put themselves in the shoes of these students. These teenagers need society's support.
I understand that the villagers need a school in that area. But how many students would there be if these premises became a school again?
A number of schools have closed because they did not have enough students. Should we reopen a school that has been closed and possibly waste resources?
Besides, the students from Christian Zheng Sheng College need help.
I do not believe they will break the law or harass villagers, so why should this proposal to expand the college be blocked?
I am not sure it was appropriate for the students from the college to be asked to attend the meeting on Sunday to discuss this issue. I know it was an attempt to project a positive image of the college, but I felt the students were being used.
I agree with those who argue that the government has done a very bad job of trying to resolve the problems regarding the school. It should have let Mui Wo residents know of its plans with plenty of promotional material.
We read so much now about the problem of students taking drugs.
It is important to make efforts to educate young people and prevent them from developing a drug habit. But it is also important to have drug-rehabilitation services and find premises for them. How about those vacant village schools in the New Territories, such as Yuen Long and Fanling?
As I said, with such initiatives there must be better forward planning on the part of the government.
Johnson Lo, Tai Po
I think the drug-rehabilitation centre should get the school premises in Mui Wo.
The students of the Christian Zheng Sheng College need more facilities and assistance to beat their addition to drugs. I think this is more important than meeting the needs of Mui Wo residents.
Mui Wo is a great place. The students are away from the pressures of the city and can concentrate on their recovery, rebuild lives and restore their health.
Mui Wo parents complain about the distance between their homes and the schools their children attend. But this problem can be solved with proper planning.
I think the residents should welcome these students from the drug-rehabilitation centre.
They need support so they can overcome their addiction to drugs.
Chan Yee-ling, North Point
Jun 18, 2009
Much as I support the idea that the Christian Zheng Sheng College needs to find premises somewhere to house its students, I do feel that Lantau residents should have first priority when it comes to the use of the school premises.
On Lantau, we have no fewer than 800 students from primary to secondary level, and a great majority of them have to travel for a couple of hours every school day to and from town.
We even have primary school students taking the kai-to to Discovery Bay to study.
That is how inadequate the situation is in southern Lantau when it comes to school places.
If the government chooses to be merciful and allow the premises to become a school again for the education of Lantau Island children, we would even be able to accommodate students from the neighbouring island of Peng Chau. It is, after all, only 15 minutes away by inter-island ferry.
We can use the school for both primary and secondary students.
Could the students of the drug-rehabilitation school not be given premises in Tai O, where there are also empty schools crying out to be used?
Or does the government have a hidden agenda somewhere for Mui Wo and southern Lantau? If that is the case, then it is high time our administration explained that agenda to the residents of Mui Wo and southern Lantau.
Reverend Edwin Pun, Lantau
I felt so sorry for the students of Christian Zheng Sheng College when I watched the television news reports on Sunday evening. Mui Wo villagers appeared to be contradicting themselves ("Villagers angry but supportive over rehab centre", June 15).
Some were screaming and children were holding up signs. But then they were hugging the students from the Christian Zheng Sheng College and showing how supportive they were of them.
Mui Wo villagers have to put themselves in the shoes of these students. These teenagers need society's support.
I understand that the villagers need a school in that area. But how many students would there be if these premises became a school again?
A number of schools have closed because they did not have enough students. Should we reopen a school that has been closed and possibly waste resources?
Besides, the students from Christian Zheng Sheng College need help.
I do not believe they will break the law or harass villagers, so why should this proposal to expand the college be blocked?
I am not sure it was appropriate for the students from the college to be asked to attend the meeting on Sunday to discuss this issue. I know it was an attempt to project a positive image of the college, but I felt the students were being used.
I agree with those who argue that the government has done a very bad job of trying to resolve the problems regarding the school. It should have let Mui Wo residents know of its plans with plenty of promotional material.
We read so much now about the problem of students taking drugs.
It is important to make efforts to educate young people and prevent them from developing a drug habit. But it is also important to have drug-rehabilitation services and find premises for them. How about those vacant village schools in the New Territories, such as Yuen Long and Fanling?
As I said, with such initiatives there must be better forward planning on the part of the government.
Johnson Lo, Tai Po
I think the drug-rehabilitation centre should get the school premises in Mui Wo.
The students of the Christian Zheng Sheng College need more facilities and assistance to beat their addition to drugs. I think this is more important than meeting the needs of Mui Wo residents.
Mui Wo is a great place. The students are away from the pressures of the city and can concentrate on their recovery, rebuild lives and restore their health.
Mui Wo parents complain about the distance between their homes and the schools their children attend. But this problem can be solved with proper planning.
I think the residents should welcome these students from the drug-rehabilitation centre.
They need support so they can overcome their addiction to drugs.
Chan Yee-ling, North Point