Your Voice: Preventing poorly built buildings, tackling parenting challenges and cybercrime

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Concerns over unsafe buildings, parenting issues and cybercrime demand urgent action to protect communities and promote responsibility

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Hong Kong must prevent the construction of poorly-built buildings to ensure public safety. Photo: Reuters

Have something to say? Send us a letter using this form.

Building safety first

Kyra Poon, St Paul’s Secondary School

I am writing to express my concern regarding the issue of Jerry-built buildings. This term refers to poorly constructed buildings that violate safety regulations, often due to the use of substandard materials or improper construction methods.

Jerry-built structures should be prevented at all costs, and governments should place a greater emphasis on enforcing construction regulations to ensure the safety of buildings.

The primary reason Jerry-built buildings require close monitoring is that they pose a significant risk to our lives and property. One of the primary functions of a building is to provide shelter for its occupants. However, this critical function is compromised when a building is poorly constructed. Imagine being at home, feeling relaxed and secure, only to have the ceiling collapse above you because the construction company took short cuts for their convenience.

The instability of one building endangers the lives and properties of everyone living within it, especially during natural disasters. A notorious example is the collapse of the Bangkok State Audit Office Tower, which occurred this year. During an earthquake in Thailand, thousands of buildings swayed but remained standing – except for the new government building, which collapsed in under eight seconds, resulting in at least 89 fatalities and numerous injuries.

Subsequent investigations identified the contractor as responsible, revealing the mishandling of construction materials and serious structural flaws in critical areas, such as the core lift shaft. Even more alarming, the contractor was found to have deleted information related to the construction after the incident.

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How can we ensure the safety of people and property if those responsible for building our shelters lack integrity or competence? For these reasons, I believe that all governments should tighten their regulations and establish specialised monitoring councils to oversee construction processes and intervene when construction companies become too lax.

So far, Hong Kong has managed to maintain building safety through the robust operations of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). However, when it comes to safeguarding human lives, we must strive to minimise risks as much as possible. Therefore, stricter measures should be implemented to prevent the emergence of “Jerry-built” buildings.

Parenting challenges in Hong Kong

Anson Wong, Pope Paul VI College

I am writing to express my views on parenting in Hong Kong today. Nowadays, many parents tend to spoil their children, giving them whatever they want whenever they cry.

For example, it has become common for parents to hand over smartphones to their kids to calm them down. There was even a news report highlighting how some children now believe that apples are round like balls and that bananas come pre-sliced without any skin. This illustrates a concerning phenomenon that contributes to the emergence of overly sheltered children in Hong Kong.

Additionally, there are helicopter parents who are excessively involved in their children’s lives, often hovering over them and attempting to control everything. These parents may make decisions for their children or try to control their choices, which can hinder their ability to make independent decisions.

Overindulgence and excessive parental control in Hong Kong hinder children’s independence and growth. Photo: Dickson Lee

They often intervene to negotiate conflicts, solve problems, or prevent failures, even when children need to learn from these experiences. This lack of autonomy can impede their growth and development. Like young saplings, children must experience challenges such as strong winds, heavy rain, and threats from pests before they can grow into sturdy trees.

Parents should not confine their children to a protective greenhouse; instead, they should allow them to face and learn from life’s difficulties.

Combating cybercrime together

Yeung Ching-yue, Po Leung Kuk Ho Yuk Ching (1984) College

I am writing to express my concern about the issue of cybercrime. Recent events have shown that many people online may face threats such as cyberbullying, hacking and scamming.

Those who misuse the internet are often referred to as phishers or hackers. These individuals can hack into systems, shut down websites and misuse computer networks. I have personally experienced cybercrime, and it was a terrible ordeal.

One day, while browsing the internet, I received a message from someone using a fake identity who attempted to lure me into clicking multiple links to set a trap and obtain my personal information.

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Given the significant dangers and problems they cause on the internet, we must take action to stop cybercriminals before it is too late. To address these issues, I recommend that individuals enhance their security systems, receive guidance and spread awareness about how to avoid falling victim to scams.

For example, we could encourage the government to educate students and create advertisements on electronic devices that provide victims with advice and solutions if they encounter cybercrime. Since those who misuse the internet are committing cybercrimes, I suggest that the government engage with and inform citizens about how to avoid becoming victims.

This can be achieved through targeted advertisements, educational programmes in schools and community outreach activities.

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