Numbers game not the point in the shooting of unarmed people

Inspired by Ray Woo's letter ('Shedding light on Tiananmen death numbers', May 26), I propose a naming system that classifies killing events objectively. An event with a death toll ranging from one to 999 should be an 'incident'; 1,000 to 9,999, an 'occasion'; 10,000 to 99,999, an 'event'; 100,000 to 999,999, a 'massacre'; and, more than that, a 'bloodbath'.

As for the June 4 'incident', the Chinese Red Cross reported that 2,600 people were killed on that morning. Given the low figure, 'massacre' is clearly not the appropriate term.

I also agree with Bill Wong ('Crackdown was necessary', May 26). Since the crackdown was so good, and so essential to the country, the acts of heroism displayed by the army should not be forgotten.

I strongly suggest that the government designates June 4 as a public holiday to celebrate the crackdown. I promise I will book the football pitches of Victoria Park in advance, and organise a re-enactment of the holy battle.

Andrew Tay, Causeway Bay

I was deeply disturbed to read the two responses to Ma Lik's outrageous comments on the Tiananmen crackdown, one by Ray Woo and the other by Bill Wong.