To Axel
I want to tell you that nearly all books i read are not written by chinese officals.And I studied most of the subjects written in english in secondary school(as you know, Hong Kong was a colony of Britain).I am now studying in Beijing, but only for a few years. Before I came to study in Beijing, I guess I have a similar impression as yours about China. I can't say that China now is a perfect country, but it should be much more better than what you western imagine. There are lots of lecturers saying what the communist party did wrong in the past, and how we can avoid them. They critized law, systems and many things about the government nowadays without being put in the prison. We want to improve our society, law, systems, but not destroying all and start again. Improving should be step by step. Thinking back, I would like to say that it was the western books which gave me a poor image about mainland China, and the fact I see today is not that bad. Brainwashed?Maybe by British..

Andre, Hong Kong, China

"It's impossible for Tibet to be independent from China,it's not acceptable for all Chinese" ... ... hahaha! how did you Chinese accept the independence of Mangolia ? You DID it, and you of course can do it again. "why not come to Tibet for looking?" ... CCP won't let anyone go to Tibet now, you don;t know that yet?

Zhao Qiankun, Beijing, China

To Naleen,
If your knowledge are well known by the western, and western media equate report, I don't think there will have so many Chinese come out and support the Government. The torch has arrived in Argentina, people there are welcome, but what you can see in western meida is only Maradona 'refuse' to carry the torch.
Do you really think the below situation are known by the western public:
1, The Tibet belong to China from 13 Century (earlier then white occupy america, australia, new zealand), the only period it announce independent is after British army conquer(1902), and then leave the problem. What's more, British cause another problem, about 34,000 sq.mi. of tibet lands is now belong to India. Why not 'free' this first?
2, The Communist army are peacefully go into tibet at 1951, but in 1959 crackdown the religious leaders riots, who refuse to release the slaves and joint socialism (95% of the Tibetan are slaves at that time). not say communist is right, but slaves are animals

Chen, GZ, China

Paul, the Chinese claim, while not entirely unchallengable, is about 100 times stronger than the European right to be in Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada.

Furthermore the human rights record of China in Tibet is light years ahead of Australia's treatment of aborigines - most of whom were physically exterminated.
Under China, Tibetans life expectancy doubled, and the population increased from 2million to 6 million.
Tibetans enjoy free education in either their own language or Mandarin as they choose.
And Tibetans are still 80 to 90percent the population of Tibet - compared to Australia where aboriginese are only 3% of the population.
Tibetan life expectancy of 67 > 59.6 for Australian aborigine.
Furthermore all Western nations recognize China's right of sovereignty over Tibet. The US recognized Tibet as part of China in 1942 - eight years BEFORE the so called 'invasion.'

So Paul I suggest you busy yourself on improving the lot of your indigenous people on your doorstep.

Wayne, Hong Kong, China

I am a Tibetan and I do not hate Chinese people at large. But I do demand Tibetan Independence. Lots of Chinese bloggers are ignoring human rights issue in China out of blind nationalism and if they love living under restrictive laws, it is their choice. Tibetans are not Chinese and no amount of force or propaganda can change that fact. Reasons like feudalism and backwardness of Tibet do not give China right to invade Tibet. Colonism should end now. We live in the 21st Century. Human beings everywhere should be free to live without fear of losing lives and limps. Tibetans do not have that right now. Support Tibet.

yakmanok, madison, usa

You cool Andre. The western allways think all Chinese people living in a dark country and they are the heros to save everyboy. Why don't you recall the time you white people kill indians? The Chinese government should boycout any games holding in American beacause we surpport the independence of Indian.

leon, Guilin, GX.China

Andre, China is your country, but can you not see the lack of human rights? did you ever read history books not written by Chinese officials? did you ever suffer imprisonment for thinking different? did you ever question your parents who support such political system? you can enter in this blog because you are in Hong Kong, where Brithishs have left his legacy,
Where do you guess that you are going to be if you say loudly what you think? Why do you feel attacked, maybe because it is touching the pride of something that is fake, like nationalism. We are not attacking China or Chineses people, but the group of leaders who are abusing of his power, keeping the public ignorant of the real happenings, ( read as an example the Xinhua newspaper). It is not against you or your fellow, but to the abusers who private many of their freedom

Axel, AMsterdam, Holland

We don't support the cultural revolution, too. The communist part has already admitted the cultural revolution is wrong. However, it is a completely different stuff in tibet. During cultural revolution, it was the communist party who made the chaos. But this time, it is the tibet people who make the chaos. (absolutely not the peaceful protest you imagine)Moreover, I want to ask "what's the reason that we Hong Kong was British colony?"Why britain still have so many colonies today?""Why just don't let them all independent?"

Andre, Hong Kong, China

I greatly admire the Tibetan demonstrators and the Han Chinese civil rights activists that the repressive dictatorship governing China has imprisoned and tortured. The Dalai Lama is, like Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi, a spiritual leader who is both a pacifist and an passionate civil rights leader. Free Tibet! Boycott Olympic sponsors, boycott the Olympic opening ceremony, and boycott Chinese goods!

Tim Dunn, Arlington, WA

Compare the american revolution - to all the others - french/russian/chinese - tell me how many people died in each ?? Your revolutions were terrible and violent - THAT is why we side with the american - ( they didn't kill the aztecs) - the british handed BACK over 200 colonies last century .... you killed Millions in the cultural revolution - read Your history ...........

paul, aus,

it is really vicious to use the word "thug" on the Chinese guy, no matter who they are, security people or not. Shame on these western media.

Politics are dirty, all around the world. Don't think you are living in a deplomatic country while others are not, don't think others are brain-washed while you are not.

Can't you just leave China alone and enjoy the Olympics, this is a once-in-a-four-year event.

Lan, BJ, China

It's so funny that the westerners think China should have democracy in which people could freely express their opinions. But when Chinese express opinions not in line with theirs, they call Chinese living with "Stockholm Syndrome." So do people with "Stockhom Syndrome" deserve democracy? A tough one, isn't it?

By the way, these people with "Stockhom Syndrome" are not those living under repression of freedom of speech in China, they live in the US, the UK, Australia, Japan, where they could get diverse sources of news.

Did it ever occur to you that they have different opinions not because they're "brainwashed," but because they see some facts that you can't see through your FREE media?

Alice, NYC, US

Please respect us Chinese, we are not all foolish. I am a Hong Kong people, I watched news of both sides. You Western are just thinking that we are foolish and just listen to the government,don't you? The fact is that I am here in a western forum to talk with you. You attacked us using those words like "Stockholm Syndrome", is that the "human rights" you claimed? I don't support the communist party, but I feel more angry when I see what you said. China is our country, who care more? If a group of people killed your parents,called for independence.What should your government do? Just sitting here,allowing the chaos? Just because you are not a Chinese and you are saying these words.

Andre, Hong Kong, China

The fact that Chinese nationals defend their government's treatment of Tibet can only be described as Stockholm Syndrome.

Thomas Nero, Short Hills, NJ, USA

America WAS NOT part of the Western, for many centuries it was not. We Chinese didn't kill all the people when we capture a new piece of land as the western did when they want colonies. You Western killed the azetecs, so they can't even say a word. Please read more history before talking about tibet.

Andre, Hong Kong, China

That's what we chinese always say the button control your brain.Guys,why XiZang(so called Tibet)want to be a country,it's not for the people there,bu for Dalai Lama and his family.Religion control become a kind of political persuit.It's much more like what Chen Shuibian did in taiwan.

Lu Weifei, shanghai, china

Tibet WAS NOT part of china - for MANY centuries it was not - Its like saying Mongolia is part of china just because some overlords TEMPORARILY invaded and enforced control (same for Korea etc) !!!

paul, aus,

If you rest in God, why will choose to use violence to break civilization.the Olympic spirit doesn't use to trample, the TIBET is a Chinese affair, not the affair of Olympic game.

tanghuayin, wuhan, china

I am so confused the editorial described Chinese security guards as thugs,it is a kind of desecration,why not come to Tibet for looking? I don't think Western people knew Tibet.
Truth can approve anything. It's impossible for Tibet to be independent from China,it's not acceptable for all Chinese

simn shun, Dongguan, China

This shows how disgusting the heavy hand of CHINA in TIBET is. Some argue that TIBET has been part of CHINA before 1959 and that TIBET was worst off before than now. That is not a good reason to do what they are doing now. Just because Tibet was part of CHINA before 1959 does not mean it should be now. Tibet was part of CHINA before due to military conquest as they are now. You cannot force people under rule without their free willing consent, which CHINA does not have.

Religious rule was evident all over the world when Tibet was ruled by religious leaders. Religious leaders ruled with heavy hands all over the world for a long time. Remember Europe's dark ages was a direct result of the CATHOLIC CHURCH's ungodly control over all aspect of EUROPEAN life. How about all ancient societies throughout the world? Just because TIBET wants independences does not mean that RELIGIOUS leaders will rule again. So people making such claims should exam their arguments well. Freedom Baby

Naleen, Northern California,

There is nothing to suggest that Maradon's non-participation has anything to do with Tibet. Apparently he had been in doubt all along because of scheduling conflicts. Otherwise there would have been a statement about the reasons for not participating. Maradona is friendly with Ahmadinejad, and is a close friend of Cuba - which supports the Tibet crackdown. So no, don't jump to conclusions - highly unlikely that Tibet had anything to do with his decision.

Wayne, Hong Kong, China

"Famous for his “hand of God” goal against England in the 1986 World Cup"
Really?? Maybe in England. I think you'll find that in the rest of the world, he is famous for being possibly the greatest footballer of all time. A very parochial statement Messrs Mitchell & Bone.

Stephen Burns, Austin, TX

Is it editorial policy at all English newspapers to mention the Hand of God goal whenever Diego Maradona is brought up?

Ryan , Vancouver, BC

well he has a real good moral ground to refuse there. perhaps he was afraid he'll do something else with his hand

David, Weymouth, Dorset