Euro, the new money

I am a student from Hong Kong, now studying in Canada. I am a person who loves traveling around very much. And the place where I would like to visit most is Europe. To me, Europe is a place full of various histories and cultures, as well as people. Unlike the U.S., European countries have their own traditions and legacy. On March 1 this year, the euro became the common currency in 12 European countries. And in practice, the old currencies disappeared, and all cash transactions are now in euros. The German mark, French franc, Italian lira, Netherlands guilder, Spainish peseta are no longer valid. The countries have abandoned their individual currencies, and this changeover has been unexpectedly fast and smooth. One day, I read from the online version of The New York Times that nearly half the population in Germany preferred keeping their old money instead of changing it to the euro. I think that this kind of attitude is understandable. Countries in Europe have their own stories and cultures that are influential and significant in world history. Their currencies, as I see it, are not just notes or coins that are used to purchase goods. They also have historical value. They are also representative objects of the countries, just like Eiffel Tower in France, windmills in the Netherlands or the edelweiss in Austria. The old money is still valuable, even though it does not have face value. Personally, I don't agree with the use of the euro, despite the convenience it gives to tourists. When some individuals demand unification because of certain reasons, those individuals will inevitably lose some of their own uniqueness. I bet most people have heard about the disadvantages of globalization. The appearance of the euro is just a tangible example of globalization. I cannot understand why those countries want a common currency in the current economic environment. Up till now, the euro seems to have had no advantages. I pity the disappearance of old money in the current market. Ho Kit Lam Toronto

Not freedom of the press

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with some newspapers in Hong Kong. Recently, a young rich man said a lot of crazy things. Some newspapers published lots of stories about him. They even followed him to Paris. To me, this was an invasion of privacy. The reporters wrote these stories in the name of press freedom and public interest. However, I believe that gossip news is not necessarily of public interest. Indeed, I do not find these stories interesting at all. They are just like some crazy fiction with disgusting photos. I wonder why these articles can be published in the main pages. Chan Yuk Chun Kwun Tong

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