Xu Linlin (Shenyang Evening News): The public parade, reportedly with a thousand people looking on, shown in live videos and photographs, has damaged the privacy of the suspects. Though wearing facemasks, there is still the possibility of being recognized. Strained by social pressure and psychological damage, will these people still have the heart to rebuild their reputations and continue their lives? Perhaps they will be discriminated against in future, in terms of employment and marriage. Are the police therefore saving them or destroying their future?

The police should be ashamed to show ignorance about the law and ignore the feelings of others.

Wang Zhiguo (Procuratorial Daily): The Futian local police thought it was quite acceptable to parade prostitutes in the streets and warn others of sex crimes. However, the law cannot be replaced by any other institution, in particular in a society where people's awareness of civil rights is rising.

Urgent action is called for to solve major problems plaguing China's present legal system. The senior legislature and governmental departments should clear up confusing regulations and specify relevant provisions to make them more applicable in practice. A more people-oriented and efficient legal procedure demands joint efforts from executive and judicial organizations to carry out the spirit of the rule of law.

Zhang Liqiang (hlj.rednet.cn): The Futian police actually lack a deep understanding of the legal process and the spirit of the law.

The establishment of a harmonious society, long advocated by the Chinese Government, should nurture a common belief in laws. The sublime belief and trust in laws can restrict people from committing crimes. But the negligence and malpractice of laws by powerful authorities can easily overturn the system, which is there to secure the civil rights of ordinary citizens.

In addition to raising public awareness about the law, our future legal education should put more emphasis on fostering the spirit of the law. Belief in laws will remold society.

Criminals don't qualify for privacy

Chen Qinggui (hlj.rednet.cn): In the first place, the Futian police's campaign to crack down on prostitution is legitimate. Second, there is no current law that bans public trials. Finally, this approach has proved effective to some extent in warning the public about these offenses.

Public opinion is divided on the method needed to crack down on the illegal sex industry, but most agree that such crimes should be severely punished. In recent years, the dramatic increase in those infected with HIV/AIDS should largely be attributed to the rise in the sex trade.

In an effort to bring the spread of this deadly virus under control, the government promotes the use of condoms and even teaches prostitutes how to use them. However, some people interpreted such safe sex education as encouraging prostitution. As far as I am concerned, however, every lawful means that can facilitate this campaign and help reduce prostitution must be used.

Bi Wenzhang (eastday.com): The criminals should be punished for violation of the law and public trials might be a possible solution. The offenders are essentially criminals, thus their sex crimes are not subject to privacy. It is similar to exposing the images of corrupt officials in open trials.

The government is decisive in dealing with its social woes by exerting greater social influence. In the Shenzhen parade, privacy cannot be used as an excuse to allow criminals to be free.

Liu Haiming (hlj.rednet.cn): Our modern civilization prioritizes the protection of privacy as a civil right of citizens. But such protection needs to be modest. The absence of protecting privacy may harm individuals, but overprotection could be just as harmful.

Most media photos show that the Futian police had taken some measures to protect the privacy of the prostitutes by allowing them to wear facemasks.

It is ridiculous that those who are opposed to open trials insist that the protection of civil rights of criminal suspects should be unconditional. The police should retain the power to punish the offenders as they see fit.