In this year’s Christmas pastoral letter, Cardinal Joseph Zen made the following remarks: “Excessive spending - Many people spend more than what they can earn and spend money before they actually earn it. Extreme greed for easy money. Even ordinary citizens use their limited savings to speculate on stock trading. This is painfully true that high yield inevitably involves high risk.” (extract from Kung Kao Po 17/12/08)

Similarly, Ng Shing Bong, a special correspondent of Ming Po, had the following analysis: “Everyone knows that the more the consumption, the heavier the amount of carbon emission. The financial tsunami could give the earth a break to breathe but government officials urge people to have confidence in spending; this sounds schizophrenic indeed. People want a lot of things but really need few. Many people know this truth but few people follow it. ”(extract from Ming Po 25/12/08)

I am used to sending to the Salvation Army clothing, new and old, that I have long put aside. I did feel a bit reluctant in the beginning, but felt fine after I had got used to it. Maybe it is really better to give than to receive.

“Modesty in practice is a virtue.” The standard of beauty is not having too much or too little!