Sir, - As an expatriate Irish woman living in Hong Kong, may I say how proud I was to be at one of the concerts given by the National Symphony Orchestra during their visit. They were superb, and clearly of world class.
Yet bad news travels as well, and I hear that some gasbag begrudger of a politician has suggested that the NSOI should not have been here; it should stay at home. He should have been in the audience and heard what Hong Kong thought of Ireland's orchestra there was thunderous applause and unstinting praise.
I can see the argument about keeping the NSOI to ourselves, but it's not fair to the rest of the world - and now that this part of the world has heard it, they'll want to hear it again. It's tough on the begrudgers, but you can't keep a good orchestra to yourself when others have heard it! - Yours, etc.,
88 Queensway,
Hong Kong.