Your Voice: Messi disappoints Hong Kong; improving the health of your plants (short letters)

I am writing to express my deep concern about the recent incident involving Lionel Messi, one of the world’s most popular football players, during the recent game between the city’s team and Inter Miami. As a student and a passionate football fan in Hong Kong, it is crucial for me to voice the public’s disappointment.

The absence of Messi in the game has greatly disappointed numerous football enthusiasts, many of whom were eagerly anticipating witnessing his skills and talent on the field. Therefore, it is not surprising that the incident has let us down.

Given the circumstances, it is understandable that fans are questioning the suitability of a refund. However, issuing refunds to all the ticket holders is a complex matter. The government may have already allocated all the funds generated from the ticket sales, and some ticket holders may have not even attended the match.

Nevertheless, to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, it is paramount for organisers and clubs to take measures to ensure transparency and effective communication regarding player availability. Clear guidelines should be established to outline the circumstances under which a player’s absence may occur and how such situations will be addressed. This would help manage fans’ expectations and reduce disappointment, allowing them to make informed decisions when purchasing tickets.

In conclusion, the absence of Messi on the pitch in Hong Kong has let down fans in the city. While a refund may not be feasible, efforts should be made to enhance transparency, communication, and the development of local talent, thereby ensuring a more fulfilling experience for football enthusiasts in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong authorities mull cutting funds after Messi no-show on the pitch

Kimmy Cheng Hoi-kiu, Mavis Lam Wing-ting, Luna Chan Oi-ching and Lulu Lu Ho-leung; Sheng Kung Hui Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School

We, a group of Form Three students from Sheng Kung Hui Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School, are thrilled to share with you our groundbreaking invention – the “Plant Disease Detector”. We believe our project would be useful for the people of Hong Kong, particularly professionals in the agricultural sector and environmentalists.

This innovation utilises AI technology to identify symptoms of plant diseases. We have developed an AI model for disease detection that we train with a diverse data set of plant leaf images. As a result, the system can differentiate between healthy and diseased plants and diagnose various diseases, such as plant anthracnose, powdery mildew, and plant rust.

Our invention addresses a pressing issue in our city which is lacking in a variety of plant disease detection apps. Our aim is to educate people on fostering plant health and implementing preventive measures. We specifically chose to focus on green leaves for ease of detection by the AI model and to emphasise our commitment to environmental protection, as green symbolises this cause.

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We believe our tool would be beneficial for farmers, gardeners and environmental stewards as it provides reliable data on plant health. We have been conducting further experiments to enhance the model’s ability to detect a wider range of plant diseases, which will enrich our database. Although our model is not yet in use, we aspire to expand our database and establish a more advanced system before promoting it to the public.

Our project was awarded the gold medal at Master Code 2023, an AI contest for students organised by Microsoft and EdCity, and we hope to continue cultivating a greener environment for everyone.

Charlotte Lau Wing-ching, St Paul’s Convent School

Did you know that approximately 42 million trees are cut down globally every day? This data from science journal Nature indicates that if this rate continues, nearly one-fourth of the world’s trees will be gone in just a few years.

Sadly, the destruction doesn’t stop there. Our oceans are also being damaged. Plastic pollution is estimated to kill 100,000 marine mammals each year, according to the WWF. The causes of these natural tragedies are human activity, but despite acknowledging this problem, more needs to be done to stop pollution.

There are a lot of ways for us to help save our planet. For example, we can support organisations that help the environment or educate the youth about climate change, such as The Green Earth and The Conservancy Association.

We all have a responsibility to educate people around us about the consequences of pollution and deforestation. Even if you are just a student, spreading awareness among your friends and siblings can make a difference. Remember, every little effort counts.

Besides that, the 3Rs are important: reduce, reuse and recycle. In Hong Kong, about 6,120 tonnes of household waste is collected every day. Before throwing something away, consider reusing or recycling it. For example, instead of tossing a sheet of paper, use both sides before recycling it. We can also donate unwanted clothes. You can go to one of the Green@Community recycling centres or visit WEEE - Park, the government’s waste electrical and electronic equipment treatment facility.

Human activities have negatively affected the Earth. If we don’t stop polluting the environment and take measures to protect our planet, we will lose many precious resources such as trees, animals and clean water. However, if we step in and stop this, we can pave the path to a brighter future.