DSE 2025 Paper 2 Part B Q3: Letter to editor

Dear Editor,

In view of an increasing number of people staying in coffee shops and fast-food restaurants for a long time to conduct activities such as tutorial lessons, studying or even meetings, I am writing to express my concern about it. While this may seem convenient and harmless at first glance, I believe this trend has both positive and negative sides, and it is something that deserves public attention. In the following, I am going to first describe this issue and discuss how this phenomenon can cause inconveniences to diners, defeat the purpose of those dining places and represent a deep-rooted issue that we should not overlook before I offer a potential solution for this matter.

To begin with, it is understandable why this has become so common because Hong Kong is a fast-paced and densely populated city, and many people live in small flats with limited space. Students may find it difficult to concentrate at home because of noise, distractions or a lack of a proper study environment. As a result, coffee shops and fast-food restaurants have become popular alternatives because they are easy to access, air-conditioned and relatively affordable. For tutors and students, these places may also seem more flexible and less expensive than renting a classroom or study room by the hour. Moreover, some people may argue that this practice makes good use of public commercial spaces. In some cases, customers do make purchases and contribute to the business. Coffee shops in particular often promote a relaxed atmosphere, and many people naturally associate them with reading, working or socialising. Therefore, it is understandable that some customers would like to stay longer and make use of the environment.

Nevertheless, despite these practical reasons, I believe the problem should not be ignored. First of all, when people occupy tables for hours after buying only a drink or a cheap meal, it creates inconvenience for other customers. During lunch and dinner hours in particular, it can be frustrating for people to walk into a restaurant only to find that many tables are taken up by tutorial classes or long study sessions. This defeats the original purpose of such eateries, which is to provide food and seating for diners.

In addition, conducting tutorial lessons in these places may affect the dining environment. Tutors explaining loudly, students discussing exercises, or groups spreading out books and notes across a table can create noise and make the place feel crowded. This may disturb other customers who simply want to enjoy a peaceful meal or short break. From the perspective of the business owners, such customers may not be the most profitable either, especially when they occupy limited seating for an extended period of time. Furthermore, I believe this trend also reflects a deeper social issue in Hong Kong. The fact that so many students and tutors need to rely on fast-food shops or cafes for lessons suggests that there is a shortage of affordable and suitable public spaces for studying and learning. Rather than blaming individuals entirely, we should also ask whether our city is providing enough community study rooms, youth centres and quiet shared spaces for educational purposes.

In my opinion, a balanced approach is needed. Customers should show greater self-discipline and consideration for others by avoiding long stays during peak hours and by not turning restaurants into classrooms. At the same time, shop owners may consider setting clearer policies on table usage, especially when the premises are crowded. More importantly, the government and community organisations should provide more affordable public venues where students can study or attend small tutorial sessions in a proper environment.

In conclusion, although using coffee shops and fast-food restaurants for tutorial lessons may be convenient, it is not an ideal long-term solution. If this trend continues without any limits, it may create inconvenience for customers, pressure for businesses and an unhealthy dependence on commercial spaces for educational purposes. I hope that through greater public awareness and better planning, a more suitable balance can be achieved.

Yours faithfully,
Chris Wong