Some newly-passed laws and regulations, which will have a major
impact on people's daily lives, will go into force from October 1,
China's National Day.
From October 1, tourists can take US$3,000 out of China at one
time if they stay abroad for less than half a year, and US$5,000 if
they stay for more than half a year, according to a new regulation
by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
Before that, Chinese tourists could take only US$2,000 out of
China at one time.
From October 1, Chinese people can get married or divorced
without certification letters from their work units, and the
compulsory health examination before marriage also will be removed,
according to the new marriage registry regulation.
In the past, Chinese could not get married or divorced without
permission of their work units and must have a health examination
before marriage, which has become just a formality or money-making
procedure in some areas.
From October 1, those who are engaged in the illegal making,
buying and selling, transporting or storing of tetramine, a
hyper-toxic rat poison, and other prohibited hyper-toxic chemicals
will face serious punishment, even the death penalty, according to
the legal explanation by China's Supreme People's Court and Supreme
People's Procuratorate.
From October 1, Chinese people can enjoy more imported fruits
and vegetables at a lower price because China and Thailand will
scrap tariffs on bilateral trade for 188 kinds of fruits and
vegetables.
From October 1, practitioners of Chinese medicine, who usually
follow the tradition of learning from masters and need not have an
official qualification, must pass a qualification exam before
practicing, according to China's new regulation on traditional
Chinese medicine.
The establishment of the regulation is considered "a historic
step" in the country's lawmaking on traditional Chinese
medicine.
In addition, China's law on prevention and control of radiation
pollution and many local regulations concerning people's daily
lives will go into effect on October 1.
(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2003)