The cancellation of pre-marital physical check-ups in October
has led to the postponement of marriage registration by many
couples in Beijing, but local registry offices say they are ready
for an expected crest of registrations during the National Day
holiday in early October.
Currently, couples are required to undergo mandatory medical
examinations if they want to get married. But a new regulation on
marriage registration, which was passed by the State Council last
month and will come into effect on October 1, makes the physical
check-up a voluntary action.
It is widely regarded as a move to simplify the marriage
registration process and offer more personal choices.
Some critics have challenged the regulation, saying it conflicts
with the Law on Mother and Infant Healthcare which stipulates that
couples should undergo physical check-ups before getting
married.
The Beijing Health Bureau recently said it will enforce the law
on mother and infant healthcare until it is amended or
abolished.
The bureau argued that the law, which was passed by the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress in 1994, takes
precedence over the regulation, and that enforcement of this law
should therefore prevail.
Many scholars have hailed the new regulation as socially
progressive and significant for human rights protection, but some
are still arguing about the legality of the cancellation. However,
many couples in the capital city have put off their registration
plans to wait for the newly provided convenience.
"The cancellation will certainly make the marriage registration
process simpler and less expensive," said Xiao Hua, a 26-year-old
employee in a public relations company in Beijing.
Xiao got married last month and she said it took her two days to
get the result of the physical check-up and that they spent more
than 100 yuan (US$12) on it.
"Had I known the regulation earlier I would have postponed my
registration too, because the check-up is just a kind of formality
and a waste of time as far as I'm concerned," she added.
Beijing Star Daily reported yesterday that a boom of
marriage registration during the upcoming seven-day-long National
Day holiday is expected and all registry offices have prepared
themselves for this.
Only two to three couples have come to register this month, far
less than the usual 30 to 60 couples in former years, the paper
quoted Li Ziwei, a division chief with the Beijing Marriage
Registry Office, as saying.
Li said the couples may have to line up to get their marriage
certificates during the National Day holiday this year.
She said none of the registry offices in Beijing will close
during the holiday and they will not shut the door until all
couples have obtained their marriage certificates.
(China Daily September 15, 2003)