Japan Airlines made a public apology yesterday to the Chinese passengers on board of its JL782flight on January 27,pressured under the Chinese passengers' complaint of discrimination, the Beijing Morning Post reported.

In the "open letter to Chinese passengers on the JL782flight",JAL explained for the flight's alternative landing and apologized for the inconvenience it had brought to the passengers.It also promised to make investigation to the case.

The passengers declined to comment,but said they reservev the possibility of resorting to legal means.

They said on that night,they were left without any care by the JAL,while all the other passengers on the board were given arrangement ranging from the free meals to hotels.

A patron for the Chinese passengers,who is only identified as Huang,said JAL avoids the substantial part of the issue in the apology letter."It must give a direct explanation for its discrimination to the Chinese passengers,"Huang added,who offered economic and legal aids to the mistreated passengers.

(Eastday.com 02/26/2001)