From the Chinese press

Lessons to be learned from a tragedy

Media reports say a five-year boy drowned in a pond in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, recently. The reports also say that the parents who lost their son have nine more children, and live in poor conditions earning a living by collecting waste. It is obvious that such a family needs social protection. But does it also deserve to be penalized for flouting the country's family planning policy? This is the question raised by an article in Beijing Times. Excerpts:

After one of their children drowned in the pond, the poor couple were offered a lot of help by local people and Pizhou city authorities offered hukou (household registration) to the rest of their children. Although their loss cannot be compensated, the couple can take solace in the fact that their children have been offered a lifeline to improve their lives.