Marriage boom expected in Beijing ( 2003-09-15 09:15) (China Daily)
The cancellation of pre-marital physical check-ups in
October has led to the postponement of marriage registration by many couples in
Beijing, but local registry offices say they are ready for an expected crest of
registrations during the National Day holiday in early October.
A couple hold a
western-style wedding in a church in Beijing. Officials in
Beijing say there will be crest of marriage
registrations during the National Day holiday in early October.
[newsphoto.com.cn]
Currently couples are required to undergo mandatory medical examinations if
they want to get married. But a new regulation on marriage registration, which
was passed by the State Council last month and will come into effect on October
1, makes the physical check-up a voluntary action.
It is widely regarded as a move to simplify the marriage registration process
and offer more personal choices.
Some critics have challenged the regulation, saying it conflicts with the Law
on Mother and Infant Healthcare which stipulates that couples should undergo
physical check-ups before getting married.
The Beijing Health Bureau recently said it will enforce the law on mother and
infant healthcare until it is amended or abolished.
The bureau argued that the law, which was passed by the Standing Committee of
the National People's Congress in 1994, takes precedence over the regulation,
and that enforcement of this law should therefore prevail.
Many scholars have hailed the new regulation as socially progressive and
significant for human rights protection, but some are still arguing about the
legality of the cancellation. However, many couples in the capital city have put
off their registration plans to wait for the newly provided convenience.
"The cancellation will certainly make the marriage registration process
simpler and less expensive," said Xiao Hua, a 26-year-old employee in a public
relations company in Beijing.
Xiao got married last month and she said it took her two days to get the
result of the physical check-up and that they spent more than 100 yuan (US$12)
on it.
"Had I known the regulation earlier I would have postponed my registration
too, because the check-up is just a kind of formality and a waste of time as far
as I'm concerned," she added.
Beijing Star Daily reported yesterday that a boom of marriage registration
during the upcoming seven-day-long National Day holiday is expected and all
registry offices have prepared themselves for this.
Only two to three couples have come to register this month, far less than the
usual 30 to 60 couples in former years, the paper quoted Li Ziwei, a division
chief with the Beijing Marriage Registry Office, as saying.
Li said the couples may have to line up to get their marriage certificates
during the National Day holiday this year.
She said none of the registry offices in Beijing will close during the
holiday and they will not shut the door until all couples have obtained their
marriage certificates.
