China not to legalize same-sex marriages ( 2003-08-20 11:27) (Agencies)
China is not prepared to register any marriage
between people of the same sex, but will allow AIDS patients to marry if certain
requirements for their marriage are met, a senior Chinese civil affairs official
has said.
An adult male and female in love need only to provide their ID cards and
residence booklets, and sign a statement that they are single and not related
before registration, said Zhang Mingliang, director of the Department of
Grassroots Government Units andCommunity Development under the Ministry of Civil
Affairs (MOCA)Tuesday afternoon.
"Even a couple with infectious diseases or AIDS may marry if they so wish,"
Zhang said, adding that marriage is still prohibited for insane persons.
"Of course those people with epidemic diseases should receive medical
treatment in accordance with relevant laws and regulations," Zhang said, "but
the new regulations on marriage registration have no special restriction on
marriage involving such people."
It is estimated that the number of AIDS patients in this, the world's most
populous country had topped one million by the end of2002.
China unveiled its new, and more relaxed regulations on marriage registration
on Monday.
The new regulations dissolved the long-held requirement for approved
certificates from the employers of those wanting to get married or divorced.
"Certificates from the employers violated, to some extent, the principled
policy of the freedom of marriage," Zhang said.
In fact, observers acknowledged that the ongoing reform of the country's
labor system and a growing population flow in the marketeconomy had contributed
to the slackening of the existing rules.
The new regulations, consisting of six chapters, or 22 items, will replace
the old version published in 1994 and take effect as of Oct. 1.
Officials from the MOCA, the ministry in charge of China's marriage
registration, said that certificates from the employers would, nevertheless,
still be required for those wishing to get married before Oct. 1 this year.
