ID cards now for children
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2004-05-13 08:54

Chinese children are now entitled to an identity card, but some parents are concerned it could expose their kids to unnecessary risks.

Previously ID cards were not issued until an individual turned 18 years old.

In Anhui Province, more than 300 people, all under 16 years old, have applied for an ID card since February. According to a law that took effect at the beginning of this year, citizens younger than 16 have the option to apply for an ID card.

Wang Banghu, professor and dean of the department of social sciences of Anhui University, said ID cards help the government manage the population better. Expanding the plan to include minors shows "care about humans and respect to individuals" during transformation to a modern society.

But some parents are concerned.

Zhang Ping, the mother of a 10-year-old, said with an ID card, juveniles could travel and check into hotels without parental permission. She believes more teens could get caught up in dangerous situations or even illegal activities.

The central government initiated the ID card program in 1985, but citizens had little sense of their use for a long time under the planned economy.

Free market reforms led to robust economic growth. As a result, the free and massive movement of people greatly increased the need and use of the ID card - the most legally binding form of identification in the country.

Huang Xiaolin, 14, is happy to have her own ID card. She used to get annoyed by problems associated with proving her identity when traveling alone. She got her ID card with her mother's help.

"I felt as if I had grown up and should take some social responsibility the moment I got my ID card," she said.

One father, surnamed Xu, applied for an ID card for his 14-month-old son. He did it to open a bank account in his son's name and now deposits money regularly for the boy's future education.

"The baby didn't have an ID card before, and it was hard to open a bank account for him," Xu said. "But now it's easy."

Lenders require ID cards when people apply to open a bank account.

Meanwhile, a nationwide program has started to replace first-generation ID cards with a new batch accessible to computers.

A total of 1.3 billion ID cards have been issued, including reissues of lost cards, and people holding ID cards number 900 million, according to stats provided by the Ministry of Public Security.

According to Zhang Zhenhua, an ID card officer of the Public Security Bureau of Hefei, Anhui, children will go through the same procedure to get an ID card.

The only difference between ID cards issued for children and adults is the period of validity. Those under 16 will have a five-year period, and it increases to 10 years for those between 16 and 25 and can be even longer for older citizens.

According to Zhang, there are various reasons minors would apply for an ID card. Other than traveling, lodging or opening bank accounts, some parents want to buy homes in their child's name, and some students need to have ID cards to take college entrance examinations.

Close

Today's Top News     Top Life News
US lawmakers say new abuse photos even worse         Wen pushes for Irish partnership         Separation means dead end for Chen         Corruption's long and winding road         Two more US soldiers face court-martial         Looming grad numbers strain job market	Glamor and controversy at Cannes       Clinton says he wants 'Life Back' after book       Harry Potter gets first girlfriend       Professional peacemakers mend relationships       Adidas creates computerized 'smart shoe'       ID cards now for children