Letter of appreciation

If you go by measures like mobile device usage and time spent online, Hong Kong can claim to be one of the world’s most connected cities. But in other more fundamental aspects of day-to-day communication, things aren’t quite as straightforward.

In every family there are inevitably times when misunderstandings arise, feelings are hurt, or chances are missed to express one’s true feelings or simply say thank you. For young people, finding the right time and the right words to deal with such issues can often prove much harder than expected.

Recognising that, “A Letter to My Family”, the biennial book review competition supported by Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), looks to encourage more effective communication. The format asks school-age students and adults to read a book in English or Chinese and then write a review in the form of a letter to a member of their family.

A key aim of the contest is to promote the habit of reading books on a regular basis. The other is to get people, especially the young, to reflect on their thoughts and feelings and express them to those who matter most.

In doing this, the hope is that contestants can improve communication and relationships with their family, relatives and friends, while recognising the value of showing love and care for others. This ties in too with SHKP’s broader-based “Building Homes with Heart” initiative.

This year saw an impressive total of more than 6,600 entries across the various categories. And the awards presentation ceremony in late August was a chance to salute the winners and celebrate their success at an event which brought friends and family together.