A public notice disclosing the personal information of people involved in a prostitution case in Hubei's provincial capital has aroused national controversy over privacy issues.

The Hongshan police sub-bureau pasted a special public notice about a June 26 raid of a local massage parlor along the streets in the Chenjiawan community on July 7.

The notice said the sex worker and patron were both sentenced to one year of detention education. The establishment's owner had been put in administrative detention for 15 days before being transferred to a criminal detention facility on July 6 on charges of "sheltering prostitution". The parlor's hostess, who fled the scene, has been put on a law enforcement wanted list.

The notice revealed the offenders' personal information, including their names and ages.

Many community residents, who had long been concerned about the their neighborhood's increasingly negative reputation, applauded the move.

"Shame on the prostitution!" Changjiang Commercial Daily quoted a local resident surnamed Liu as saying.

"Their names should be publicized, and people should loathe and despise them."

However, most believe publicizing the offenders' real names is a violation of their privacy.

The news story became one of the most commented upon online. A survey on sina.com, the country's largest news portal, found 60.3 percent of the 101,758 netizens polled by 6 pm on Sunday believed that publicly revealing offenders' real names is a violation of privacy.

Only 36.2 percent of those surveyed supported the move, saying it will help deter illegal activities, such as prostitution.

Changjiang Commercial Daily quoted a lawyer surnamed Gu as saying the police acted in accordance with law.