Many of the old streets were popular for shopping, such as Lee Tung Street ('Wedding Card Street'). It was a favourite shopping spot for cards for traditional Chinese weddings or during Lunar New Year.

It contains the memories of so many Hongkongers, and streets like that should be protected.

Looking at our neighbour Macau, it has a done a really good job of preserving its old streets. It is so easy to find traditional stores and authentic period buildings.

It always excites me when I visit Macau because I can feel the sense of history and culture as I walk around the streets.

I can appreciate the old Portuguese architecture, which can be seen everywhere.

People are attracted to places with historical landmarks.

Such historical landmarks are attractive and enjoyable to visit.

In Hong Kong, I hope that a consensus can be arrived at between the government and citizens so that those old streets which still exist in the city can be saved.

When it comes to preserving a street with really unique qualities, the authorities must ensure that any renovation work is done with care, so that the distinguishing features of that street are preserved.

If this happens, then we can ensure we get more visitors, attracted by Hong Kong's diversity.

Wong Yan-yi, Lam Tin

What do you think of the free booking facility at sports venues?

I was very glad to read that the problem of people booking courts at Leisure and Cultural Services Department venues and then not turning up to use them has finally been highlighted ('No-shows at venues frustrate regular players', August 20).

For more than a month and a half, I have been one of the regulars who has had to put up with the side effects of the government's decision to make certain sports facilities - such as badminton and tennis courts and swimming pools - free for everyone as a means to encourage people to exercise in the run-up to and during the Olympics.

The whole policy was hastily thought up and seemed to be an easy way for the Hong Kong government to show its support for the Beijing Olympics.

This decision, like many others the government has taken, failed to consider the fact that even when people are paying the usual rates, overbooking is common at a lot of government venues. It was difficult enough to get a court when players still had to pay.

I would be interested to know if the number of people who book but do not turn up is higher during this free period than it is during the period when people have to pay. I hope such information will be compiled by officials and made public.

I believe this whole policy of having free entry has been a fiasco, even if the use of the venues has increased substantially.

Any increased use does not mean that more Hongkongers are becoming passionate about doing sports.

It is just that for many people, getting something for free has a magnetic attraction.

Regular tennis players like me will have to endure this policy for a another few weeks.

I am yet to be convinced that it has been an effective tool for promoting sports. It is the regular players who are the first to suffer.

Emily Mak Kim-yee, North Point

Many people were delighted when the government announced that booking facilities at its sports venues would be free over the summer period.

However, there has now been more feedback regarding this policy.

It would seem obvious that all sports fans would welcome a policy that would allow them into sports venues free of charge.

It also proves attractive to people who up till now have not been involved in sports.

However, sadly, the policy has not been without its problems, with people booking courts and not turning up. This is a waste of valuable resources.

I agree that the government should try to get more people participating in sport, but it should think carefully before implementing any policies.

I hope, now that these problems have been pointed out to officials, they will act promptly to improve this situation.

J. Y. Wong, Fanling

Have you been asked to pay a credit card surcharge?

The latest Consumer Council report on credit card practices is a surprise to me ('Watchdog targets credit card ploys', August 16).

I recently learned that airlines discriminate when it comes to certain types of tickets purchased through travel agents where a credit card is used.

This forces travel agents to impose an extra charge on customers. The practice has the tacit agreement of the Travel Industry Council.

All credit card companies are going along with it because they are too lame to take on the airlines. An ineffectual standard warning letter to a travel agent is all they will do if anyone complains.

This is why booking travel online has not taken off in Hong Kong, or in Europe or North America. People find it a waste of time to surf the websites of different airlines to compare prices.

These things make our economy inefficient.

Allowing airlines to impose a fuel surcharge on customers is repugnant enough. Must the public continue to put up with more of this kind of hypocrisy?

Mimi Leung, Yuen Long

On other matters ...

Our emergency services were stretched to handle many simultaneous incidents during the No9 typhoon on Friday.

Their prompt efficiency in attending to so many, all at once, is to be praised.

Several large trees in Mid-Levels were felled by the gale-force winds.

But within minutes, police officers had arrived to section off affected areas and to redirect traffic: no mean feat, in a hurricane. All credit to them.

Paul Surtees, Mid-Levels