Performance Plus for the HKDSE — All-in-one Exam Practice (Vol.

2) (2nd Edition) Set 6 Paper 2

Part A Question 1
Sunday, 12th March, 20( ) Hong Kong Youth Post
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,

One of many problems facing Hong Kong is the ageing population. Soon, one in every four people in
Hong Kong will be over the age of 65. The government, in my opinion, is not doing enough for the elderly.
Despite being a modern city, Hong Kong still lags behind other cities in the level of care it provides for the
elderly.

Daniel Chan
North Point

You are Chris Wong. Write a letter to the editor of the Hong Kong Youth Post replying to the points made by
Daniel Chan. You can make suggestions about what the Hong Kong government can do to improve how they
look after the elderly. Do not write an address.

Topic Analysis
Your Role Chris Wong
Reply to the points made by Daniel Chan
• One in four people in Hong Kong will be over the age of 65
Situation / Task Requirements soon
• Hong Kong lags behind other countries in the level of care it
provides for the elderly
Make suggestions on what the Hong Kong government can do to
Sub-topics
improve how they look after the elderly
Text Type Letter to the editor
Target Audience The editor of the Hong Kong Youth Post / The general public
• Formal
Language and Tone
• Use the simple present tense to express opinions
• To express opinions
Purpose of Writing
• To make suggestions

Topic-related Vocabulary
affordable ageing population assistance assisted living
burden centre for the elderly dignity free medical care
health care in dire need of medical bed nursing home
retirement home senior social service timely
to accommodate to age gracefully to creep up on us to outnumber

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Performance Plus for the HKDSE — All-in-one Exam Practice (Vol. 2) (2nd Edition) Set 6 Paper 2

Writing Plan
Formal greeting
Greeting
• Dear Editor, / Dear Sir,
Tell the reader what your stance is, that is, whether you support the views of
Introductory paragraph Daniel Chan
• I could not agree more.
The needs of the aged
• The elderly need homes where they can age gracefully with facilities for
Body paragraphs independent living as well as assisted living.
What the government can do to improve how they look after the elderly
• The government can provide affordable retirement homes.
• Perhaps a comprehensive welfare system needs to be established not
Closing paragraph
only for this generation but also for future generations.
Formal closing
Closing • Yours faithfully,
Chris Wong

Sample Essay
Dear Editor,

Your letter from reader Daniel Chan (Hong Kong Youth Post, 12th March 20( )) regarding the plight
of Hong Kong’s aged is timely. I could not agree more and suggest that the news that one in four Hong Kong
residents will soon be over 65 years old should be of concern to all residents.

It is known that as people age, their needs for social services and health care increase and there is
simply not enough of either in place here.

Despite being one of the most advanced societies in the region, Hong Kong has neglected to provide
adequate assistance to the aged. These things should not be allowed to creep up on us, one of life’s
inevitabilities is that we will all age and then become a burden on society.

Caring for the elderly does not simply mean having medical beds to accommodate people who get sick.
The elderly also need homes where they can age gracefully with facilities for independent living as well as
assisted living. In today’s Hong Kong, there are simply not enough affordable retirement homes for the
elderly.

Funding needs to be allocated to establish a comprehensive welfare system not only for this generation,
which is in dire need of such assistance, but also future generations who will have similar needs.

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Performance Plus for the HKDSE — All-in-one Exam Practice (Vol. 2) (2nd Edition) Set 6 Paper 2

Yours faithfully,
Chris Wong

© Pilot Publishing Company Ltd. 2018 All rights reserved. 3