Your correspondent Vivian Kwok needs a better “grasp” of democracy (“ The city needs a better grasp of democracy ”, May 7). She seems not to understand the difference between democracy and anarchy. Those who protested peacefully for a more democratic electoral system comprised the substantial majority of the protesters, and they have my support. Those who turned to violence and those who displayed intolerance of anyone who disagreed with them do not. They support anarchy, not democracy. A realistic discussion of freedom is beyond the scope of this letter, but full democracy should be the ultimate aim of all civilised nations. Governments throughout the ages, and throughout the world, tend to favour some sections of society more than others. Democratic elections offer everyone the chance to change the government; undemocratic elections tend to favour those already in favour. Hong Kong is more than ready for democracy. Laws were already in place to prosecute vandals and those who encourage them. The national security law makes it easier to prosecute those who disagree with the government and those who wish to protest peacefully. Peter Robertson, Sai Kung Ronny Tong’s sense of irony remains intact In your succinctly titled article , “Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam ‘most liberal-minded’ chief executive city has ever had, top government adviser says as he backs her to serve a second term” (April 28), you quote executive councillor Ronny Tong Ka-wah as saying, “If [Carrie Lam] can make her government more open to accommodate more people from various sectors to widen the political spectrum of the government, I think it is better than [getting another chief executive to] start all over again.” I am glad to see that Mr Tong has not lost his sense of irony. Chris Maden, Sham Shui Po