The shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau said yesterday that it will launch a new appraisal system in September, requiring adopting applicants to meet certain qualifications relating to physical and mind health, and ethic behavior.

Currently, the bureau will approve adoption application if a couple are above 30 years old and financially capable of rearing a child. For a male single adopting parent who wants to adopt a girl child, he must 40 years older than the girl.

Under the new system, professional social workers will evaluate an applicant's overall conditions to decide whether he or she is qualified to adopt a child.

"The system is expected to focus more on the applicant's mental health and ethics, which we believe is as important as his or her financial condition for rearing a child," said Zhou Jixiang of the civil bureau in charge of adoption.

In addition to the evaluation system, starting in September the bureau will conduct stricter monitoring after the adoption.

For instance, the bureau will publicize information about the child, with the photo of the child in local media for 60 days after the child is chosen by applicants. If the child's natural parents do not claim the child, the adoption becomes legal.

At present, it is up to the adopting family whether to publicize such information, officials said.

After the orphaned or abandoned child is legally adopted, the bureau will keep track of the adopting family to prevent any illegal practice.

Last year, 1,210 children were adopted legally in Shanghai, while 594 adoptions were illegal.

(Shanghai Daily June 28, 2003)