Letters

Nation showed sympathy for injured Liu

China's Liu Xiang pulled out of the men's 110 metres hurdles heat on Monday due to an injury ('The nation's shattered dream', August 19). As Chinese we were so disappointed when we heard the news.

However, at the same time people appreciated the hard work he had put into his Olympic bid. We should not forget the efforts that he made.

I surfed the internet after the race and found that a lot of Hong Kong people expressed support for Liu. They were saying that he had tried his best and that they were proud of him.

He showed us the real meaning of sport and the spirit of the Games. What he needs to do now is take a rest and work at getting better.

I am sure that once he has recovered he will perform well when he races again.

I think that is the right attitude to adopt, to never give up and overcome your difficulties.

I look forward to seeing him performing again for his country.

Charlie Chan Wing-tai, Sha Tin

New attitude a welcome change

My enthusiasm for the Games was dampened by Liu Xiang's withdrawal from the 110 metres hurdles.

Millions of Chinese had invested a lot of hope in Liu.

I was completely shocked when I saw him walk away from the starting blocks.

Although it was one of the major disappointments in this Games, I was impressed by the mature response from our leaders and citizens.

Right after he was forced to withdraw, the internet was flooded with e-mails expressing sympathy and support for the athlete.

Vice-President Xi Jinping , almost immediately expressed his support for Liu.

It has been a tradition in Chinese culture to glorify the winners and ignore the losers. The deluge of encouraging notes from the public and leaders defied this tradition and showed the world the humane side of Chinese culture.

I hope this reflects a sea change in Chinese society and that it means the poor and weak will now be given the support they need and shown more respect.

Leung Kwok-hung, Sham Shui Po

A lot of room for improvement

A number of your correspondents have complained about the coverage of the Olympics by our local TV stations.

I would like to add my views, given that I have had the opportunity to watch the Olympics being broadcast on local stations in Atlanta and Sydney when those cities hosted the Games. By comparison I have been shocked by the coverage here. In the English coverage, the broadcasters do not seem to know much about some of the sports.

On the Chinese channels, the Olympics programmes are littered with celebrities who spend all their time cheering on every Chinese team taking part instead of providing an insightful commentary.

They also cheer when an opposing team is defeated.

That is hardly an expression of the Olympic spirit. In fact, it is very unprofessional behaviour. Finally I would like to know why the different channels all broadcast the same event.

Surely the broadcasting authorities could arrange things so that viewers had a full choice of Olympic programming.

The present arrangement is ridiculous. Can someone in charge please give us an explanation?

Brandon Ma, Central

Why stop at shooting ban?

I write with no small measure of astonishment at the naive and reality-detached perspective from which J. Garner hails ('Shooting events not for Games', August 18). As much as I recognise the dog days of summer might encourage the lodging of tongue firmly in cheek, I respond in the event that the intent might be genuine.

Given your correspondent's distaste for certain events and their warmongering overtones, might I suggest we do not stop at just the shooting and remove all events with martial origins?

We would then dispense with archery, javelin (and quite possibly the shot put, discus and hammer throw), boxing, taekwondo, judo, certain parts of the decathlon, pentathlon and heptathlon, fencing and wrestling.

This would then free up the schedule for more genteel pastimes and I would therefore encourage J. Garner to promulgate the inclusion of competitive macrame, braiding and heaven forbid, croquet.

Or would those mallets be deemed too weapon-like?

Lester Lim, Mid-Levels

Calling all British expats

British expatriates who want to vote in the next general election in Britain need to register to vote.

It looks like there will be a change of government and this would be good for Hong Kong. The new government is likely to support international trade with more vigour than the present government.

British citizens over 18 and who have not been out of the country for more than 15 years can vote. Conservatives Abroad in London has set up a website that has links to the three main political parties, as well as having all the information to register.

By visiting (www.dontleave yourvoteathome.com) there is an easy guide to downloading the forms and a connection to the electoral commission.

If voters need help with the forms, or someone to countersign them, contact me on themcghies@netvigator.com and I or others from Conservatives Abroad Hong Kong would be happy to help no matter what their political allegiance. They do not need to wait till an election is called. They can register now and apply for a postal or a proxy vote.

Remember that postal votes need to arrive in time for the election.

Robert McGhie, Mid-Levels

Safety issues

We would like to thank Paul Zimmerman for his comments regarding the proposed design of the new Kennedy Town swimming pool and the David Trench Rehabilitation Centre under the MTR West Island Line project ('Bouquets and brickbats', August 5).

The MTR Corporation has been very active in discussing the design of these reprovisioning works with concerned authorities over the past two years.

We are aware that the safety and security of users is of the utmost concern to the future rehabilitation centre and will continue to work with the authorities to come up with the best design.

Maggie So, senior manager, projects and property, MTR Corporation

Peaceful deal

I refer to the article by Gwynne Dyer ('India's nuclear deal not likely to see light of day', August 18).

The deal involving India and the US relates to India's civilian nuclear energy needs. It has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or military co-operation against China.

In fact China has signed a similar deal with the US. Presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama has expressed his support for the deal because he understands such nuclear energy is not about atomic weapons against civilians.

It will help in India's rapid industrialisation programme and also solve the electricity needs in millions of homes in the country.

Dyutimoy Chakraborty, Quarry Bay