The Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court yesterday ordered singer Zhou Xuan to pay 10,000 yuan (US$1,210) in compensation to Zhang Tielin, an actor known for his roles as emperors, for mental anguish caused by Zhou's "irresponsible declaration" that Zhang asked her to have sex with him.

Zhou has also been ordered by the court to publish a written apology in the Chengdu Commercial Daily, in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, the newspaper that first published stories on the alleged case, for damage to Zhang's reputation.

Zhou, a 28-year-old woman born in Sichuan Province, is now a resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The 46-year-old Zhang was born in North China's Hebei Province and is now a British citizen.

Neither of them was present at yesterday's court hearing and they could not be reached for comment.

Zhou's lawyer, Wang Jingwu said he, too, has not been able to contact his client to decide whether to appeal to a higher court.

He mentioned that Zhou once thought of making a counterclaim against Zhang for damaging her reputation, but later dropped the idea. "I do not know why she made this decision," Wang said.

The lawyer Xie Gang, representing the plaintiff Zhang, said he also needs to discuss an appeal with the actor.

Zhang asked for 1 million yuan (US$121,000) in compensation from Zhou in his initial complaint, which was filed with the court in July.

The actor also sued the Chengdu Commercial Daily for "unfounded reports" and libel.

Yesterday's judgment said the paper's reports are based at Zhou's narration and, in that sense, are true, so the paper was declared not guilty of damaging Zhang's reputation.

Li Yingchun, the lawyer for the newspaper said yesterday the paper is satisfied with the result and will not appeal to a higher court.

Zhou Xuan claimed in June that Zhang asked her to have sex with him, but she refused. Then the actor declined to be present at the ceremony marking the publication of her new book.

The Chengdu Commercial Press first published two stories on the alleged sexual harassment case. Subsequently, many other Chinese newspapers printed follow-up articles as entertainment stories.

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