I'm an American lesbian working in Beijing. Ever since my boss saw me kissing my girlfriend after work, she has been making extremely rude comments, saying I'm sick and should be kicked out of China. I have complained to human resources but they seem unwilling to help. What else can I do?

Verbal remarks are acceptable in Chinese culture, while there is no law in China that covers the rights of homosexuals. If the boss is not defaming you, it will be hard for you to lodge a legal complaint against her. However, if she uses insulting words that question your character, you can file a lawsuit with the court where your company is located on the basis that she is damaging your reputation. You will need to provide evidence though, such as a sound or video recording, or witness testimonies.

I see lots of children running around in groups or by themselves at times when they should be in school. Are there any laws against truancy here? Is there anyone I can report them to?

China has no law against truancy. Whether it be primary school, high school or university students, truancy is an internal matter, and schools will issue punishments for those youngsters who miss class, usually in the form of verbal warnings. If you see a child you think is missing school and know where they study, you can report them to their school's administration board. If a truant student causes damage or commits a crime, call the police.

Urinating in public is a crime in many Western countries, with offenders in some charged with indecent exposure. I've noticed lots of men in Beijing publicly urinating during the day. Is this a crime?

Urinating in public is not a crime in China. You may condemn the offenders morally but you can do nothing about it. To be frank, the infrastructure is not very good in China. You can report a case to police, but they will probably not thank you for it.

Need advice from METRO's legal experts? E-mail your questions to metrobeijing@chinadaily.com.cn. Please give as many details about your situation as possible. Answers supplied by Zhao Jianping at Dajia Law Firm on 6551-1122.

China Daily

(China Daily 06/01/2011 page36)