[Wang Feng on family planning]

The population growth rate of the Han people in the Xinjiang Uygur (Uighur) Autonomous Region, northwest China, has dropped from 24.26/1000 in 1975 to 14.86/1000, while the rate in cities and farms densely populated by Han people has been reduced to under 10/1000. This figure was made public recently by Wang Fang, chairman of the regional revolutionary committee, in his work report delivered at the 2nd session of the 5th regional people's congress. The region has a population of 11 million, about 1/2 of whom are people of Han nationality. Wang Feng stressed that Xinjiang's family planning work is mainly to be done among the Han people. "Family planning is not emphasized among the minority nationalities," he pointed, "but technical guidance should be made available for those who have too many children, who have given birth to children at very short intervals or who wish to practice birth control." The objectives set forth by Wang Feng for family planning in the region are: the population growth rate of the region is to drop to about 12/1000 in 1980 and to about 8% by 1985. Practical measures should be taken to reach the objectives, Wang Feng said. They include: improving care for women and children, rewarding couples who limit themselves to a single child and gradually introducing social insurance for old people who are childless; criticizing those cadres of Han nationality who do not practice family planning when they are required to, training personnel to carry out education in birth control, improving related techniques and providing safe sterilization operations; and insuring efficient supply of contraceptives.