China couples with two or more kids still face difficulties despite relaxed one-c

hild policy
Mon, May 25 2015
China couples with two or more kids still face difficulties despite relaxed one-
child policy
Despite China's one-child policy, couples are allowed to have two children or ev
en more if they are willing to pay a hefty fine. Still, many are faced with diff
iculties as local authorities are afraid the unplanned fertility rates will jeop
ardise their career.
By Maria Siow, Channel NewsAsia
POSTED: 25 May 2015 11:21
PHOTOS
Chinese children feed pigeons at a park in Beijing, on August 7, 2014. (Photo: A
FP/Wang Zhao)
BEIJING: Changes in Chinas strict one-child policy in recent years have led some
experts to predict it is only a matter of time before all couples will be allowe
d to have two children.
However, for the likes of Wang Mr Wenzhong, who managed to have more than one ch
ild, it still proves difficult for their children to obtain a "hukou" - a record
in the country s household registration system.
Without a hukou, it would be difficult for my child to attend school and obtain m
edical insurance," said the 46-year-old father.
Mr Wang violated his country s one-child policy when his second child was concei
ved. As a result, he paid a hefty fine, which then allowed the child to obtain a
hukou.
Four years ago, however, Mr Wang had a third child - the first from his second m
arriage. So far, the child is still unable to obtain a residence permit despite
letters to the government and efforts to pay the fine.
"When he gets older, he needs a hukou to travel, find a job, get married and hav
e a family," said the father-of-three, who argued his current wife should not be
penalised as the child is only her first.
We cannot deprive my wife the right to become a mother. We are prepared to spend
all our familys fortune, but our childs future cannot be affected, he said.
Under existing policies, those who are not eligible for a second child have to p
ay a social maintenance fee - a hefty fine that will allow the child a residence
permit. Still, some local governments can withhold the permit for a wide range
of reasons; and it is in cities like Beijing and Guangzhou where these permits a
re most difficult to obtain.
This is another issue Mr Wang is struggling with. With his family in Beijing, he
wishes to get a residence permit in the capital Beijing for his third child, wh
o was born there.
However, the local government asked Mr Wang to pay his fine and register the chi
ld in Shandong, where his current wife s residence permit is registered. The fat
her-of-three refused to do so, as it would mean the family will be separated.
Local governments are afraid of appraisals from higher authorities on their unpla
nned fertility rates. If the number has been exceeded, they are afraid of losing
their jobs. So they will find all ways to prevent that," said Cai Yong from the
Department of Sociology at the University of South Carolina Chapel Hill.
Even though this practice is likely to be abolished eventually, it will not bene
fit the likes of Mr Wang, as the changes will not be retroactive. In his bid to
keep his family together, the father-of-three is considering taking legal action
against the authorities in Beijing.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-couples-with-two-or/186984
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