Finally there comes a sorry on court from imprudent police of Shenzhen who publicly referred to Henna natives in a lackluster manner. And the duo plaintiffs endorse the apology by revoking further charges.

The huge banner that reads "To smash Henan gangs of racketeering" has caused strong reaction from Henan natives in Shenzhen. [Southern Metropolis Daily]

Two plaintiffs, also Henan residents Li Dongzhao and Ren Chengyu filed a discrimination case against a Shenzhen police sub-station for branding Henan people as criminals last March.

The sub-station in South China's Guangdong Province put up the large banner in early March and offered a reward of 500 yuan (US$60) to anyone who could help nab the Henan gang in the community.

However, after wide media exposure stirred a public outcry, local police said they had gone door to door in a Shenzhen district where many people from the Central China province live to apologize. And they removed the banner soon.

Unfortunately, the efforts can hardly satisfy Li Dongzhao - one of the plaintiffs - who rejected the "olive branch."

On April 15, 2005, Li and Ren filed a lawsuit against Longgang sub-station claiming it had violated the principle of equity enshrined in the Chinese Constitution. They said the police action infringed the rights of Henan people, damaged their reputation and caused mental trauma.

Li hopes that the lawsuit would prod Chinese lawmakers to enact a law on regional discrimination since there is no such explicit legislation now.

Meanwhile, Wu Zhouwei, spokesman for Longgang sub-station, explained that the banner was put up by a patrol officer on his own initiative.

He said it got no sanction from the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau; and that the patrol officer has been suspended from work since then.

In the first three months of 2005, the community police station caught 17 suspects from five racketeering gangs - all from Henan Province, Wu revealed.

The case is a vivid reflection of discrimination against Henan natives, said Liu Zhongguo from Shenzhen Culture Study Centre.

Dramatically illustrating such behaviour is Wang Lei, a 45-year-old businesswoman who moved to Shenzhen from Henan in 1993 but has told few people of her ancestry.

"I am afraid that once I tell them where I am from, they won't conduct business with me any more," said Wang, adding that she had even told her daughter to keep it a secret.

Editor: Yan