Crackdown on gender selection in Hebei (Shanghai Daily) Updated: 2006-05-31 13:44 Authorities in Hebei Province
said they had closed more than 200 medical facilities following a crackdown on
unauthorized abortions and services to tell the gender of a fetus.
The 2000 national census showed that in Hebei for every 100 newborn girls,
there were 118.46 boys. In some areas, the ratio was 134. The worldwide figure
is between 102 and 107.
Officials said most of the couples who had used the illegal services were
those who had been authorized to have a second baby.
The couples had paid for services to tell the gender of their fetus and then
sought an abortion after discovering it to be a girl, officials said.
The country bans abortions for fetuses more than 14 weeks old.
Many Chinese couples, especially those in the rural areas, prefer boys.
Officials said the crackdown solved 848 cases of illegal abortion and gender
services involving 745 hospitals and medical facilities.
Authorities shut 201 medical facilities and fined another 374, according to
media reports, citing the provincial People's Congress. Three medical workers
allegedly involved in violating the family planning rules were handed over to
prosecutors.
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