[Guangdong official on planned parenthood rumors]

Certain rumors have been rife in some parts of Guangdong with regard to the planned parenthood policies. As a result a few of the masses have harbored doubts about the policy of the Central Committee and State Council on advocating that each couple has only 1 child. This has affected the launching of planned parenthood work. A station reporter has therefore visited a responsible person of the provincial People's Government's planned parenthood office. The responsible person pointed out: At present there is all kinds of talk in some places. Some people say that it was wrong to advocate that a couple have only 1 child. Some say that theentral Committee and State Council have advocated having 2 children. Some have even said that the Central Committee has issued a document stipulating that those who have taken out single-child certificates can have a 2nd child as long as they surrender all their premiums, and so on and so forth. There is no basis at all for these notions. There is no change in the party and state policy that a couple should have only 1 child. The current population policy of the party and state is: universal advocation of having only 1 child, strict control over the birth of a 2nd, and resolute prohibition of the birth of a 3rd. If certain of the masses encounter actual difficulties that need to be taken care of in accordance with the policies on controlling the birth of a 2nd child, they can be allowed to have a 2nd child. For instance, if the 1st child is deformed and cannot grow into a normal laborer, the couple will be allowed to have a 2nd child. However, only a very few people encounter these actual difficulties. The responsible person said: For a couple to have only 1 child is the best method of solving China's present special population problem.