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.

A general view of the five-star International Conference Hotel in Zhuhai which was closed by police after a sex scandal involving about 400 Japanese tourists and 500 local prostitutes on September 18, 2003. China has detained suspects involving in the scandal. [Reuters]

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' behaviour, 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.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan described the orgy, involving hundreds of Japanese men and prostitutes on the anniversary of Japan's occupation of China, as "extremely odious". [China Daily/file]

The three-day orgy began at a hotel affiliated to the Zhuhai International Convention Centre 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 behaviour.

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.

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