Shanghai, China's largest city, is set to implement a new
population policy beginning Thursday that will make it a bit easier
for certain locals to have a second child.
The new Shanghai population and family planning regulation,
which was approved by Shanghai People's Congress late last year,
allows a husband and wife who both are single children themselves
to have a second child.
The new policy also cancels the four-year interval between the
first and second child that was required by the old regulation.
Originally, only a couple in a second marriage could have
another child if one of the spouses did not already have one. The
new regulation removes this restriction, so that a newly organized
family can have one more child even if both husband and wife have
children from earlier marriages.
Under the old regulation, if one spouse in a rural area is
disabled to such an extent that it affects his or her ability to
work, the family can have a second child. This right will now be
extended to urban families.
The loosening of the restrictions opens "a small crack" in the
old family planning policy in Shanghai, one of the most densely
populated areas in China.
The policy readjustments, although only small in scope, indicate
more humanitarian care.
It also represents decision-makers' concern for the city's aging
population, pointed out Zhang Henian, deputy director of the
Institute of Population and Development Studies at the Shanghai
Academy of Social Sciences.
Zhang noted that the city government needs to loosen certain
population policies in Shanghai's suburbs further while continuing
to control population growth in the city's congested downtown
areas.
"To refine the city's population distribution is urgent, yet it
will be a long process," Zhang added.
The city's family planning authority, however, emphasizes that
the new regulations are not intended to "greatly loosen
restrictions on second births."
"They are not to encourage more childbearing," said Xia Yi,
vice-director of Shanghai Municipal Population and Family Planning
Commission. "The one-child policy will remain the basis for the new
regulation."
Shanghai's population was estimated at around 17 million at the
end of 2003, including 3 million migrant workers who reportedly
lived in the city for at least six months.
Immigration has made an exclusive contribution to the city's
population growth as the local aging population witnessed negative
natural growth for 11 consecutive years, according to the
commission.
The city has now set up a population forecasting system to
reduce fluctuations in birth rates.
Under the system, the city's family planning commission will
provide one to two periodic forecasts every year on local birth
rates, which will help local families better plan births and avoid
peaks in education and employment.
(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2004)