In inclusive P-wave charmonium decay, to cancel infrared divergence in the
colour singlet contribution requires the inclusion of the colour octet whic
h becomes degenerate with the former in the infrared limit. In the correspo
nding exclusive decay, such an infrared divergence does not exist. On this
ground, it becomes doubtful whether the colour octet is needed in exclusive
reactions. A contradiction in the underlying picture, however, would resul
t once all strong decay channels are summed. We provide an answer to this q
uestion in support of the colour octet with theoretical arguments as well a
s an explicit calculation of chi(J) --> p (p) over bar. (C) 2000 Elsevier S
cience B.V, All rights reserved.