Over the past decade I have made hundreds of trips across the border on business, usually returning the same day. After the imposition of these new rules I was given a visa which permitted me to stay in Shenzhen only, making it impossible to visit my suppliers.

I feel very sad and disappointed at this development after so many years investing, training and simply helping our suppliers on the mainland and feeding them with orders.

The situation is terrible and many of my fellow business people who usually cross the border three times or more a week in peak production times are finding it almost impossible to operate.

The Hong Kong government can have a far greater influence on Beijing than foreign chambers of commerce from Europe and the United States, and I hope it will represent our views over this policy.

J. Weckherlin, Kwai Chung

Boorish display of nationalism

I refer to the report ('The flame lights up HK', May 3), regarding Friday's Olympic torch relay in Hong Kong, which said that 'protesters supporting Tibet or calling for human rights improvements on the mainland were able to demonstrate along the route'. This was certainly not the case on Nathan Road or in Wan Chai, where near-hysterical nationalist crowds shouted, spat at and struck protesters. If one managed to display a placard for more than two seconds, policemen bore down ordering demonstrators to go away.

The truth is that citizens wishing to express their views had to be isolated from ugly mobs of their fellow countrymen. It is shameful that in Hong Kong one can be assaulted for holding a minority view.

On May 2 some mean-spirited crowds repudiated two historical virtues of Chinese culture - tolerance and love of knowledge - by brutishly denying tolerance to anyone trying to express his or her view on the situation in Tibet. As for knowledge, instead of hanging out on pavements spitting at people whose views differ from their own, the more virulent nationalists' time would be better spent reading some history, concentrating on Mongolia/China/Tibet engagement during the Tang and Yuan dynasties, the relationship between the Guangxu emperor and the 13th Dalai Lama, and the events of 1950.

The concept of suzerainty - the basis of China's claim to Tibet - if consistently applied, means that Korea and Vietnam are also part of China. How many young nationalists will volunteer to bring Korea back to the embrace of the motherland? Shrill voices and violent behaviour often characterise people defending an indefensible position; this doesn't change the fact that in the 21st century colonialism is untenable and uncivilised mob behaviour - whether in London, Paris or Hong Kong - is abhorrent.

Kara Young, Mid-Levels

Out of step with citizens' views

The protest march organised by Szeto Wah of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China during the Hong Kong leg of the Olympic torch relay, ended in dismal failure.

He and his supporters probably hoped their action would bring disruption similar to what was seen during the Paris, London and San Francisco legs of the relay. Instead they were met with a definitive thumbs-down from the supporters of the relay.

Obviously they have made a big political blunder, so much so that the chairman of the Democratic Party, Albert Ho Chun-yan, had to go on air to explain there was nothing wrong with expressing differing views. He is absolutely correct.

All these years, the people of Hong Kong were bombarded with one-sided views calling for universal suffrage and expressing opposition to the motherland. I am proud Hong Kong people finally rose in unison to express their views and feelings during this historic moment. Freedom of expression is certainly not the exclusive privilege of the so-called democrats.

Margaret Chang, Causeway Bay

Games should be downsized

The Olympics should be pared down to the basics - athletics, swimming and a few other individual sports. There should be no team games or nonsense like 'synchronised' swimming.

Rich nations should contribute money so the Games can be held in a poor country that would otherwise never get the chance to host them. In this way, that country would get new sports facilities and give young people there the opportunity to get professional coaching through a scheme where a sports institute would be set up a couple of years before the Olympics. It is the sight of small, impoverished nations with one or two athletes marching behind their country's flag that moves me the most, not juggernauts like China or the US with hundreds of athletes who are professionals or who have been moulded since birth at athletic sweatshops, as in the case of the former country.

The athletes from these small countries cannot possibly win their events, but I cheer them on more than the 'stars' with sponsorships and lucrative advertising contracts. It might not be easy to change the Olympics as they are now, but why not try?

Jennifer Eagleton, Tai Po

Simple ways to slow down cars

The tragic bus crash at the Nam Pin Wai roundabout in Sai Kung has highlighted the need for some intelligent road safety measures to be introduced at the location.

Downhill traffic on New Hiram's Highway is encouraged to speed up and overtake once the road opens out into a dual carriageway approaching the roundabout, despite the 50km/h speed limit. Measures that can be considered are rumble strips and speed-limit signs that flash when a speeding vehicle approaches them - both are effective at controlling speed in Britain and elsewhere. In the meantime, Sai Kung residents and visitors will be hoping that the government will not try to force through any misconceived plan to build a four-lane highway beyond the roundabout to Marina Cove or, even worse, to Sai Kung town and even worse still, all the way to Ma On Shan.

This would encourage yet more speeding and herald the destruction of Sai Kung, which the Planning Department calls the 'leisure garden of Hong Kong'.

Guy Shirra, Sai Kung

Speed bumps

New Hiram's Highway is a long and steep road, and unless a driver brakes quite hard all the way, he will find himself exceeding the impractical speed limit of 50km/h.

To slow vehicles down as they approach the roundabout at the bottom, why not introduce ramps or speed bumps?

Ramon Lo, Central