The sex orgy involving nearly 400 Japanese male tourists and 500
Chinese prostitutes in a Zhuhai hotel was an "abominable" act that
has hurt the feelings of Chinese people.
The law-breaking incident has severely damaged too the image of
Japan in the international community.
The remark was made by a Chinese Foreign Ministry official
Monday when he summoned a Japanese Embassy official in Beijing to
protest.
Expressing "strong indignation" over the Japanese tourists'
behavior, the Chinese official urged Japan to educate its citizens
who come to China so that they can strictly abide by Chinese laws,
keep their activities within the bounds of morals, and refrain from
doing anything illegal that could hurt the feelings of peoples of
both countries.
It was the second time that the Chinese Government has passed
comment on the incident. On Sunday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong
Quan revealed that the authorities were investigating the case and
would mete out punishment in accordance with the law.
He also urged the Japanese Government to strengthen education to
their citizens in China so they would abide by Chinese laws.
The three-day orgy began at a hotel affiliated to the Zhuhai
International Convention Center in South China's Guangdong Province
on September 16, just two days before the 72nd anniversary of the
start of the Japanese army's occupation of Northeast China in
1931.
Many Chinese were outraged by the incident not only because of
its scale, but also because of the belief that the Japanese had
chosen this sensitive time to humiliate the Chinese people and tout
their wartime behavior.
The Japanese official who was summoned yesterday expressed
regret over the incident.
He agreed that Japanese citizens visiting China should abide by
Chinese laws.
He also promised to convey the stance of the Chinese Government
to Tokyo and expressed hope that the incident will not cause
negative effect to Sino-Japanese friendship.
Police in Zhuhai are investigating the case and have arrested
several suspects.
The hotel involved suspended its business two days after the
incident was exposed.
(China Daily September 30, 2003)