(The Standard P.6 28 Mar 2013) Baptist University students have
apologized to a restaurant that caters to the needy and paid the cash
equivalent (等值的) of
a sponsorship deal they received after being roundly criticized (嚴厲地批評)
for taking resources away from the poor.
About a dozen (十多名) youngsters
gave HK$1,600 to Chan Cheuk-ming - also known as Ming Gor and owner of Pei Ho
Seafood and Roasted Meat Restaurant - who had been approached (聯繫) by the
students to provide free food during their school activities.
The restaurant in Sham Shui Po is known for a
menu with extraordinarily (格外地) low prices - a bowl of steamed rice with a plate of
vegetables, for example, sells for HK$16.
One of those who slammed (猛烈抨擊)
the students was Benson Tsang Chi-ho, a member of volunteer group Equal Share
Campaign (平等分享行動) and
one of many who cooperate (合作) with
Chan in sponsoring food services.
"Ming Gor helps the poor and the
homeless and the students should not have asked him to sponsor their
activities," he said on his Facebook page.
To
teach the students a lesson, Tang asked them to distribute (分發)
food
to the elderly and homeless around the district (地區) yesterday.
He later said the students were "very brave to own up (承認) to
their mistakes."
One of the students said they had approached (聯繫)
several restaurants in Sham Shui Po but only Chan agreed to provide them with
food.
Students' Union president Michelle Fung
Ching-man said next time "we will look for background information on
restaurants before requesting sponsorships (贊助)."
Chan, who is in his 60s, said he helped the
students to inspire (激勵) them to help society in the future.
"Even if these students do not become
the chief executive, they can become the financial secretary and help the poor
in the future," he said.
Baptist
University vice chancellor (校長) Albert Chan
Sun-chi praised (讚揚) the restaurant
owner and said the incident brought a positive result: "It proves (證明) that our students are willing (願意的) to
learn from mistakes."
Kelly Ip
You can’t do everything well, but you can try your best to do everything. Are you willing to learn from mistakes? Or how do you help your children and students to admit that they have made something wrong?
回覆刪除Recently, there were some Baptist University students to apologize to a restaurant owner, Chan Cheuk-ming for requesting sponsorship. The case is that the students asked the latter to provide free food during their school activities. As Chan is very kind to the underprivileged and he often helps the poor and homeless, the matter of sponsor their school activities resulted in criticism by Tsang Chi-ho, a member of volunteer group Equal Share Campaign. He claimed that the students should not take resources away from the poor. He posted his opinion about them on his Facebook page. Also, there are lots of netizens slammed the students.
However, Chan forgave the students for what they had done to him. Thinking that they did because of inexperience, he said they had learnt their lessons. The students gave HK$1,600 to Chan for buying meal tickets and distributed food to the needy. Saying that they took a positive attitude to prove that they learnt from mistakes, Chan added they had much room for improvement. He hoped the public would be tolerant to them.
This case is a topic for the parents and teachers to discuss with their children and students. It brings a positive message for young people how to do in a right way. Adults should advise youngsters that the latter should have to do some thinking before making a decision whatever they do.
Kitty Ko