Regional officials considering changes to population policy

Beijing - High-ranking regional officials have confirmed for the first time that they are mulling over making an adjustment to China's 30-year-old family planning policy, which encourages families to have only one child.

Even so, population authorities in the central government are declining to say whether they will make a similar call for relaxation.

Word has circulated widely in the country that selected regions in the mainland will start a trial policy under which an urban couple can have a second child if either the husband or wife is an only child.