Shanghai will enforce stricter control of technologies used in
family planning services, stop illegal gender-checks of fetus and
reduce unplanned births among the migrant population, but alleviate
punishment for unplanned births.
The "more practical and feasible approach" to birth control will be
introduced under a revised local regulation to be adopted after
China's first law on population and family planning takes effect on
September 1, said officials of the city's family planning
department.
Lawmakers and health officials are now doing field studies and
research to map out the new version. This will be the fourth
amendment since the city issued its own regulation on family
planning in 1990. The last amendment was made in 1997.
"The city is revising the regulation to bring it in line with the
new national law, which is a milestone for family planning in this
country," said Wei Longgeng, spokesman for the Shanghai Population
and Family Planning Commission.
The regulation, with seven chapters and 47 articles, contains
policies on population development, birth control, social
guarantees, technological service for family planning and legal
responsibility.
The new version of the local regulation will provide a
comprehensive outlook on birth control, including additional
restrictions on technology adopted in family planning service,
fairer treatment for families with unplanned children and stricter
administration of the migrant population.
For instance, the law rules that it is illegal to check the gender
of the fetus using ultrasonic equipment. But Shanghai, with its
advanced medical standards, has other means to do so, the official
said.
"Our revised regulation will take care of more aspects like these,"
Wei said.
While retaining the one-child policy as the cornerstone for family
planning, the national law clarifies that couples can have a second
child under certain circumstances. Every province can have its own
guidelines on this issue.
Under the new regulation, parents in Shanghai whose first-borns are
non-hereditary handicapped, or when both the parents hail from
one-child families may, after paying about 100,000 yuan (US$12,000)
for the so-called "social expenditures" to the government, rear the
second child.
However, in the past, the child and the parents would suffer in
other ways apart from the payment. For example, the child could
face problems going to school or finding a job. The parents would
receive less welfare, or their chances of promotion could be far
less, compared to those who have one child.
"These kinds of restrictions will be removed in the revised rule.
After paying the money, both the kid and the parents can enjoy the
same rights as others," Wei said.
He
scoffed at claims that the ruling was nothing but a relaxation of
curbs on unplanned birth. "The employers and the neighborhood
committees will face punishment if their employees or residents
violate family planning laws. It will be up to them to try and
persuade the couple to go for an abortion if it is found that the
pregnancy does not conform to the policy on having a second child,"
he said.
"But that is not the main problem. The important thing is how to
control the movement of the migrant population and the unplanned
births among them. In the new regulation, more detailed rules and
management measures will be issued," Wei said.
Officials, however, admitted that it is difficult, if not
impossible, to enforce the one-child policy among migrants.
The new regulation will push for the establishment of a tracking
system to register migrants. Health workers and neighborhood
committee staff will be asked to give regular lectures on birth
control, launch strict supervision and provide the same service for
them as permanent residents, such as distributing con-traceptives
and offering consultation from time to time.
The city's population has maintained a negative natural growth rate
for the past nine years. The present birth rate is 0.55 percent.
Last year, about 69,400 children were born in Shanghai with a total
population of 16.7 million.
(eastday.com February 20,
2002)