Authorities in north China's Hebei Province have ordered the closure of 201 medical clinics that were found to have been involved in birthing gender selection, according to a local authority official.

Investigations uncovered 848 gender selection cases involving 745 hospitals and clinics, said Zhao Xin, director of the Hebei Provincial Commission for Population and Family Planning.

It also closed down 201 clinics and fined 374 others. Zhao added that the licenses of 104 medical staff have been revoked, and charges have been brought against three people.

Identifying the gender of fetuses and aborting females for the purpose of gender selection are banned practices in China.

In some areas in Hebei, there are 134 boys for every 100 girls. The national ratio was 116.9 to 100 according to a census in 2000, and 108.5 to 100 in 1982.

The traditional Chinese preference for boys over girls is widely blamed for the increasing gender gap.

Hebei governor Ji Yunshi said the province is aiming to find a balance of?the numbers by 2010.

One of the measures to achieve this is giving a subsidy of 600 yuan (US$75) a year to anyone over the age of 60 with only one or two daughters. Provincial authorities and local organizations also raise funds to send girls back to school. They have so far helped 8,200 girls continue with their education.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2006)