This may appear heartless, but it cannot be right that the government, or some organisation, must be responsible for everything that happens to us in our daily activities such as sport and travel.

Philip Beh, Pokfulam

I am 47 and have run the past three Standard Chartered half-marathons. I think the event is very professionally organised and firmly believe the responsibility is on the individuals to make sure they are prepared for the race, health-wise, fitness level etc.

A medical check could confirm if a person was fit to run the marathon, but hidden illness could still remain. Runners have to take responsibility for themselves.

Name and address supplied

A mandatory medical evaluation requirement for entrants over the age of 45 would unnecessarily burden the majority of people falling into the category.

More importantly, such a requirement fails to address the real problem, which is the absence of a true running culture in Hong Kong. The vast majority of marathon entrants are drastically underprepared.

As an experienced runner, it is obvious that many people enter the race with little or no previous training. This fact is evident in the cumbersome clothes, backpacks, and equipment that people carry, as well as the large number of runners that begin walking after only 2km or 3km.

While the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association has succeeded in getting more Hong Kong residents into the race, it has failed in adequately educating and preparing runners to undertake such a challenge.

It should also be noted that airflow through the Western Harbour Tunnel was entirely absent in this year's race. Air could be felt blowing out of the tunnel near the exits. However, the lowest point of the tunnel was a sweltering pit. This problem did not exist previously and clearly a detrimental change had been made for this year's race.

James Collison

Your question is difficult to answer without knowing the following:

What were the ages of all runners seeking medical assistance on Sunday? I suspect the majority of those seeking help were not over 45, but rather, under and mostly ignorant of the demands of such a race.

Are Hong Kong doctors capable of providing reliable certificates of fitness for individuals who would like to run?

Are Hong Kong doctors willing to provide such a certificate?

Knowing the answer to these questions will provide a better basis to answer your question.

David Brian, Braemar Hill

Q How should the government promote the eco-friendly car?

The government has been promoting eco-friendly cars for more than five years. However, it seems this promotion is not a success as few motorists are willing to buy such a vehicle. The government should consider the following points:

It should provide better support facilities for eco-friendly cars. Only a few stations can provide such services.

It should provide tax incentives for motorists to buy eco-friendly cars.

It should put more effort into education, so that everyone will be aware that eco-friendly cars protect the environment.

Boris Chan, Ho Man Tin

Q Is the new school building planned for Discovery Bay too big?

I hope that, as district councillor for Discovery Bay, Amy Yung Wing-sheung intends to further the best interests of her constituents by recommending that the Legislative Council finance committee approve funding for the new school.

In her public role, it will not do to keep this endorsement a private matter. Her constituents deserve a clear and open stand.

Since the case seems to be under discussion in the pages of the Post, Ms Yung should confirm her position.

S. Barnes, Discovery Bay

On other matters ...

The Heung Yee Kuk, which represents the interests of New Territories villagers threatened to sue over the ban on backyard birds. It has asserted that there should have been more time given for consultation. I'm sure the viruses would understand and agree to not infect any other birds or people while everyone was heard from.

I still don't get it. We are faced with an imminent crisis (another child in Indonesia just died from bird flu) and the government is supposed to dither and risk the start of a pandemic so people can be comfortable with having their chickens, geese and ducks taken away?

I wonder what these same people would be saying and suing if someone died from bird flu because the government had done nothing.

Ed Hahn, Central