| Shanghai adjusts population and birth control policy ( 2004-01-25 08:47) (Xinhua)
 
 
 Shanghai has adjusted its 
population and birth control policy, giving residents more freedomto control 
their reproductive activities, the Shanghai Municipal Population and Birth 
Control Committee has announced. 
 The revised Shanghai Municipal Population and Birth Control Statute will come 
into effect on April 15. 
 The former statute allowed couples, who were both only childrenthemselves or 
whose first child was disabled due to non-genetic reasons, to have a second 
child four years after the first was born. 
 The four-year time gap has been removed in the revised statute and qualified 
couples are allowed to have a second child accordingto their own schedule.
 Under the revised policy, women who give birth to their first legitimate 
child over the age of 24 can enjoy a 30-day late childbirth vacation. 
 If an only child is disabled or dies before the age of 16 and his or her 
parents are unwilling to adopt or have a second child, they will receive a 
government birth control subsidy. |