Merry Christmas

Dear,

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Mary
23.12.2012

Selling prices of grocery items in supermarkets in HK

Many studies have shown that the prices of grocery items in the supermarkets in HK significantly increased and are still rising.  Some suggest that it is the result of high rent.  Other says that it is because of a lack of competition.  Write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper to express your views on the issue and also explore solutions to the problem.

			Ms. W. Wong No. XX, Candy Street, HK.
			11th December, 2012

Editor, SCMP

Dear Editor,

Selling prices of grocery items in supermarkets in HK

       The selling prices of grocery items are very expensive in supermarkets nowadays.  It’s mainly due to monopoly.

       There are numerous choices for the citizens to buy the daily necessities.  Shops, convenience stores, vending machines, boutiques, apartments and hawkers are everywhere for the citizens to buy the things they need.

       As the HK citizens are busy at work, they choose to buy the goods in the evenings after work.  The supermarkets provide buying services for them.  Even though the prices are higher than the nearby markets, they are willing to buy them in supermarkets.  The supermarkets have varieties of goods in one spot.  This will save a lot of time.  They will buy the groceries in one go.

       Due to the standard of wages announced by HKSAR government, the pay to these grocery workers is high.  The employers have great burden because of high rent, electricity fee, too. 

       Since the prices of groceries in supermarkets are ever increasing, housewives will have to compare prices from different outlets.  Therefore, they spare less time to do the housework.  Qualify of life decreases.  For example, fish is good food for our health.  Fish is expensive in supermarkets at present. 

       The solutions to the above problems is that bosses of the supermarkets should keep an eye on the prices of their goods. Otherwise, the customers will have to turn away from them.  The customers should think twice before they purchase any groceries.

       It’s generally hoped that the prices will decrease in the near future.  Maybe, it really happens.

                                                               Yours faithfully,
                                                               
                                                               Ms. W Wong
                                                               Reader.

More resources should be put to housing in HK

Everyone needs a place of shelter.  Everyone needs residence.  I think HKSAR government should put more resources to housing.

As Hong Kong is a small place with a huge population, housing problem has plagued HK for a long time.  Many people in the grassroot level cannot afford the high rent.  As an alternative solution, they live in sub-divided flats.  However, sub-divided flats form a miserable, known but ignored world.  Therefore, more public housing estate flats should be built.  In this way, the Government may shorten the waiting time to have public housing flats for the needy people. 

Home Ownership Scheme organized by the HKSAR government has built more houses for the low income families.  The lower prices of the flats is the land cost excluded  by the government.  This will attract the youngsters to buy flats instead of rent flats.  Rate recession for HOS owners should be carried out in order to help them achieve a good life.

Since the purchase price of private residential properties has risen to such a high level nowadays, many Hong Kong citizens cannot afford to buy them.  As the owners may be unable to afford the high rate of mortgage, the HKSAR government should put more resources on it.  HKSAR government should, for example, lend money to these Hong Kong citizens with lower rate interest to buy these private housing flats.

In view of the above programs, I’m confident the housing problem in HK can be solved to a great extent. 

Mary

(230 words)