Letters | Hong Kong protesters, heed the lessons of the Hungarian Revolution and beware of false promises

To the extent that you are receiving encouragement for your actions from outsiders (“Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers in US to discuss city’s crisis with politicians and business leaders”, August 16), please do not fall for their promises. You mean nothing to them and are merely to be taken advantage of to embarrass your motherland.

I am speaking from experience. I escaped from Hungary in October 1956 during the anti-Russian revolution. This was not just a protest movement but a revolt using guns and tanks on both sides. The Americans encouraged the revolutionaries, promising that if they could hold on for a few days, help would be sent. The young freedom fighters held out, but no help arrived. Thousands died – all for nothing, as Russian tanks eventually rolled in and took control.