Policy that saved marriages junked

A policy that introduced a cooling-off period for couples seeking a divorce in Southwest China was scrapped this month despite local officials saying it helped to keep families together.

In the previous 13 months, couples in Yunnan province's Dali Bai autonomous prefecture have had to wait at least seven days for an appointment to finalize a divorce after registering with the local government.

Before a pilot was launched, a permanent separation could be secured instantly as long as the correct documents were presented and there was no dispute over assets.

According to Dali civil affairs bureau, the cooling-off period worked well socially, as data show almost half of the roughly 10,000 couples who registered for an appointment last year did not show up to finalize their divorce.

"I'd tell everyone: Please think it over, and come back next week if you still want to divorce. I was pleased when they didn't come back," says Yang Jianbo, director of the marriage registration office in Dali. "Most couples accepted the system, because they know it's for their own good."

However, despite the effect, the policy had to be cancelled on March 8 after the Ministry of Civil Affairs ruled that it ran counter to the nation's Marriage Law as it interfered with people's rights.

"It's a pity," said Li Jianjun, a director in the Dali civil affairs bureau. "The policy may have been too advanced."

Yet according official data, similar policies have been introduced in the cities of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, Qingdao in Shandong province, and Lanzhou in Gansu province.

A spokesman for the ministry was not available to comment this week.

China has had a rising divorce rate for the past 12 consecutive years. Most are young couples, although reports are rife of people separating to get around government policies, such as the limit on real estate purchases by married couples in some cities.

More than 3.6 million couples divorced in 2014, 3.9 percent higher than the previous year.

During the annual session of the state legislature, the National People's Congress, seven deputies submitted a proposal to introduce a cooling-off period of three months, to reduce the number of divorces. They complained that costs are low and the procedures are quick, making it too easy for families to break up.

The seven-day pilot in Dali was introduced after a proposal in early 2014 by Li Hongxia, a deputy to the Yangbi Yi autonomous county people's congress.

"Husbands and wives may have problems with little things, like raising their children, caring for an elderly person, or property, but they are not severe enough to lead to a divorce," says Wang Zhaowei, another director in Dali civil affairs bureau, who supported the proposal.

Wang Juan, a farmer in Dali's Longyun county, who filed for divorce from his wife last year, agreed. "Marriage deserves to be treasured. The system gave us an opportunity to think it over and realize the good things about each other."

Shi Wenzhi contributed to this story.

(China Daily European Weekly 03/18/2016 page2)