Hypocritical call

The so-called orgy arranged by Japanese tourists in Zhuhai last month has understandably caused a furore in the local, Chinese and Japanese media.

Scandalous behaviour no doubt, but certainly not the big deal it has been turned into by people calling for boycotts and the like.

Who believes that, since prostitution is illegal in China, there are no prostitutes on the mainland?

It is true that, during the second world war, Japanese troops committed all sorts of atrocities and abused women in the countries they invaded. No one is disputing that, but in the Zhuhai case, the prostitutes and their pimps certainly made a bundle of money.

Japanese tourists are usually charged more than other tourists, so most likely those hundreds in Zhuhai got charged more for sex.

Last week, anti-Japanese activists again tried to land in the Diaoyutai and protested at the consulate in Central ('Activists ditch Diaoyu plan', October 10).

Somehow it seems that this is the season for blaming the Japanese for everything that is going wrong. At the same time, it all seems so hypocritical, what with people asking for boycotts of Japanese goods.

These people must surely know that all youngsters in Hong Kong are fans of Japanese products, including fashion, food, audiovisual goods, toys, cars, trends, etc.

Are these angry people with a conscience willing to ask others to boycott Chinese goods because in the past Mao Zedong was responsible for the deaths of millions during the Cultural Revolution or because People's Liberation Army troops opened fire on unarmed students in Tiananmen Square?

Not likely, not in this world.

HARRY CHEN, Lai Chi Kok