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SCMP Reporter

We need to repeat Games passion for Beijing's Paralympics
Now that the Beijing Olympics are over, we can look forward to the Paralympics.  The Beijing Games were a great success because it had the passionate support of the public.
I hope this passion will continue with the Paralympics.
The Paralympics make a great impact on the world of sport and on the competitors. They can feel the joy and passion of taking part and it helps them grow in confidence.
An event like this symbolises the real spirit of sport.
I am sure it will succeed because the Beijing government has garnered a lot of experience from holding the Olympics earlier this month.
We were passionate about the Games and that fervour should not be diminished for the Paralympics.
We should be just as excited about this upcoming event.
Unfortunately, some people tend to forget about the Paralympics after the Olympics have finished.
Therefore it is up to our government to promote these Games, although I am not aware that they have  been promoted.  I suspect there are many people who do not even know the Paralympics are taking place.
I think if the Beijing government promotes the Paralympics, it will create a positive image of the administration and show that our officials care for and respect the whole Olympic movement, which includes the Olympics.
We are part of our country and we should show we care with a passion about the forthcoming events in Beijing.
The spirit of sport does not end with the Beijing Games.
Janet Chow, Kwai Chung
Champion hurdler will bounce back
Winning as many medals as possible seemed to be one of the main aims of the participating countries in the Olympic Games.
Of course, medals brought glory to the nation. But I felt that men, in particular, paid too much attention to this aspect of national vanity.
Of course, as Chinese, we were proud of our champion hurdler  Liu Xiang , 25.
As his compatriots, we wanted to see him winning on home soil and there was a feeling of disappointment when he had to pull out injured.
I felt the same as I am sure many other Chinese people did - disappointed, bewildered and heartbroken. However, once I had had time to think about it, I blamed myself for adopting the wrong attitude.
The fact is that in the past four years, since winning in Athens, Liu  has shouldered too much unnecessary pressure.
When the hurdler kept winning world-class competitions, we just smiled and thought it was normal.
However, when in Beijing, he had to pull out through injury, some people called it a betrayal. We later came to realise that he had no choice. He is only human, after all.
Something similar happened to Du Li, the women's 10 metre air rifle favourite. She came fifth because of the enormous pressure she was under to win China's first gold since Athens four years ago. The 26-year-old failed to defend her title in Beijing.
Again, the public did not appreciate this and reacted in an immature way.
Although Liu could not complete the race, he has pledged to return to the  international stage.
This exemplified what the Games stand for - sportsmanship and a never-say-die attitude.
Margaret Lee Chui-yi, Yau Tong
Little confidence in Legco candidates
As I look forward to next Sunday's Legislative Council election, I am forced to question the ability of some candidates.
It is good that we see more candidates willing to get into the political arena and compete.
The sad thing is that it seems to me that their understanding of our society, in particular, of economics and social philosophy is poor.
The pan-democratic camp  talk about a competition law as being the panacea for our economic problems.  They focus on this reform as if it is the only direction in which to go.
The pro-government camp also seems to have a fixed mindset, continually attacking what is sees as  weakness in the field of economics on the part of the democrats, in particular, the Civic Party.
I have been disappointed by the Civic Party. I would like to see its candidates raising concerns over the weakness of research and development in Hong Kong, the fact that small and medium-sized enterprises have little incentive to return to Hong Kong and the need for increased spending to help the economy.
It is a shame I have not heard them mention monopolies, or duopolies such as in the supermarket sector.   I am wondering if there is any reason  to vote for these candidates and if I can rely on them.
Eric Wong, Hung Hom
Lifeguards must be there during typhoons
Regarding Typhoon Nuri, earlier this month, why is it that lifeguards are off-duty when the public most needs them? Even if the Leisure and Cultural Services Department decides that it is too dangerous for lifeguards to attempt a rescue, at least they could be on-duty to warn the public of the inherent dangers and dissuade unknowledgeable and inexperienced swimmers.
Give them time and a half or some other variation of hazard pay. With regard to public safety, at the least a permanent sign should be constructed. It would inform the public of rip tides. One forms in the same place in Big Wave Bay every time there's a swell and  sucks unsuspecting swimmers out to sea.
Also the sign should inform swimmers what to do when they are caught in rip tide - swim parallel to the shore.
When the swell is up, lifeguards also need to position themselves at the water's edge for quicker rescues.   The larger issue is the lack of a waterman's culture among lifeguards who demonstrate little interest in training and swimming ability.
This contrasts with places like Australia where lifeguards are training for the day they risk their lives to save someone else and all voluntarily, for no pay.
Gary Bullis, Shek O
Observatory staff did the right thing
As a student nurse, many years ago in Edinburgh, Scotland, and left in charge of a ward with 36 sick children  for night duty, the doctor in charge told me not to worry about calling him out. He would rather be called out several times than not called out when it really mattered.
I recalled those words when I read the report ('Observatory staff hurt by criticisms', says chief', August 28).
Typhoons are dangerous which is why the Observatory raises the signals.  Observatory staff do it because over the years experience has shown them that people die when they are caught in a typhoon so the best place is in a safe place indoors.  People tend to die in accidents in typhoons when they ignore these warnings and think they know best and that the Observatory is being an 'old woman'. Well I am an 'old woman' and I for one am very grateful for their experience and their guidelines on what to do in a typhoon over the many years I have lived in Hong Kong.
During our sailing days their expertise for the trips down to the Philippines were always spot-on and very professional. They always took the time to come and brief us before our races.
I would far rather they got one wrong than they get the typhoon wrong and many people are killed and injured.
So, a big thank you Hong Kong Observatory staff, as there are many people who are grateful to you. You are not perfect, who is, but over  the years you have tried to keep us safe.
Patricia Renwick, Discovery Bay



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