Does this seem like a dream? Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa inherited a Hong Kong where everyone was in a dream and did not want to wake up. It was, in fact, a bubble created by the policies of his predecessors. He could have tried to continue it or have not taken the job in the first place.

After all, who would want a job that required deflating a bubble that would burst soon? Only someone who is willing to sacrifice himself to an angry mob.

The reality of Hong Kong in 1997 was that individuals could no longer afford to buy a home - property had been pumped up by artificially limiting supply - and companies were paying high rents as well as high salaries to employees who did not want to work.

Companies would have left eventually, causing more unemployment and possibly a depression.

Thankfully, Mr Tung took the job, selflessly taking the blame for past excesses while offering affordable housing and deflating the bubble.

Hong Kong has suffered badly in six years, but it could have been worse. The future is now bright. Housing is affordable, we have low, manageable economic growth, and more companies are moving here.

I am defending an honest and kind man, who has sacrificed himself for the good of the people, yet those same people are condemning him.

ANDREW CHUNG, Happy Valley

Salute to the people

Though I am an occasional critic of Hong Kongers for their seeming apathy and incessant pleading for their government to make things better, I can honestly say that I have a newfound respect for them.

People from all walks and of all ages braved brutal heat and crowds to show they have a voice and seriously care about that voice being silenced by Article 23.

The ordinary people of Hong Kong: I salute you.

CHARLES HENNING, Guangzhou

Coverage of the march

Returning from five days in China, I read here what I heard in China on CNN - that all news of the July 1 march in Hong Kong was blacked out, including the coverage on CNN.

It is correct that on the morning of July 1 there was a small interruption in the CNN coverage that I was watching in my hotel. However, during the rest of my stay, up to Thursday, there was adequate reporting on this subject on CNN.

JEFFRY KUPERUS, Repulse Bay