Your October 27 editorial on the decision by Amnesty International to withdraw from Hong Kong and the recent issue of “political slogans” at the Hong Kong Marathon illustrate a key frustration that many people in Hong Kong are feeling today. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s response to the Amnesty decision was to say that we have nothing to fear as long as we do not break the law, and to remind us that our human rights are protected under the Basic Law. The marathon’s response was to say politics had no place in sports. Both of these responses would appear to dismiss the issue without grappling with the heart of the problem. At one time we had a reasonably good understanding of what “breaking the law” meant, but since the national security law came into force, we no longer do. When we witness people being imprisoned for things that two years ago they would not have been, it creates fear. This, combined with a lack of detailed definition of the law’s scope, creates a potent combination of uncertainty and fear that makes life very difficult for those working in human rights, particularly when their work overlaps with political issues. Their work and their ability to protect employees become questionable. There seems to be a growing sentiment that politics is the province of politicians and that the general population has little significant contribution to make apart from at the ballot box. While the marathon organisers might not have wanted to go that far, it is not difficult to see how the current political climate led to their approach. The thought that an “add oil” tattoo might somehow lead to political incrimination is surely symptomatic of how far we have actually gone. Tony Read, Aberdeen Contract tracing rule will hurt phoneless people Next month, it will be compulsory for everyone entering government buildings to use the “Leave Home Safe” app. This issue has raised my concern as I go to public library study rooms regularly as a Form Six student. Explaining the new rule, the government said that “incomplete or even false personal particulars may be provided as we currently allow the registration of only the registrant’s name and contact number as an alternative. This can greatly reduce the efficiency and precision of contact tracing when a confirmed case is found.” Critics have denounced this new rule. I, too, am troubled. The people most affected are likely to be those who do not possess smartphones . Take homeless people as an example. These individuals usually rely on free public facilities such as libraries and sports centres for leisure and daily showers. Under this policy, they will be unable to access those facilities, given that many of them do not own a smartphone. Likewise, the impoverished and the elderly could also be affected. In short, this rule causes a considerable and unnecessary inconvenience to homeless and poor people. My vice-principal once caught me with my phone switched on during lessons. He confiscated my phone and kept it until my parent could come to school to retrieve it. I thought I could still carry on with my studies without my phone. However, I was profoundly mistaken. As soon as I arrived at a public library study room, I realised that I could not enter as library staff required that I answer a security phone call. At that moment, I realised how essential phones are; without one, I could not even use a public service. It is absurd that we cannot access a place just because we do not have a smartphone for the government to record our attendance. Such absurdity can be seen in the logic that attendance records on paper do not count. I hope the government can rethink this rule and take into consideration the fact that people who do not have a phone also deserve the right to enter government premises. Simon Fung, Kwun Tong Russian tourists should not be unfairly targeted As one of the most trusted media outlets in China, the South China Morning Post publishes factual, trustworthy material and informs its audience of the latest developments in different countries of the world, including Russia. Thus we were upset to find the article “ Crime waves ” published in the October 17 edition of Post Magazine . The article tried to impose misleading interpretations on your readers by claiming that Russian tourists in Bali, Pattaya and Goa were a huge concern to the local authorities because they were disrespectful to native customs and committed serious crimes on a regular basis. The Russian Embassy in China would like to draw your attention to the fact that crime has no nationality. Therefore, we tend to believe that a deliberate focus in the article on Russian tourists intends to smear our people and contributes to anti-Russia sentiments. Moreover, the magazine’s cover illustration shows travel passports of the Russian Federation, printed with the national emblem, being drowned by the sea. Such deliberate offence to a state symbol cannot be accepted. It is regrettable that a respectable media outlet like the Post published this Russophobic article. Such material could create a negative impression of Russia and undermine Russia-China relations, which is especially deplorable in a year the two countries are marking the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation. The Embassy of the Russian Federation in China and the Post enjoy long-standing relations. We strongly believe that the Post offers accurate, fair and balanced coverage on Russia and would like to further promote our cooperation. Georgy Egorov, press officer, Russian Embassy in China