Donations, hukou and gaokao

China's economic growth and subsequent higher standard of living mean that fewer healthy children are now available for adoption because parents can now afford to provide for their offspring. Moreover, the higher donation required for overseas adoption has encouraged more orphanages to give priority to foreign adopters.

"The orphanage originally asked for a donation of 6,000 yuan ($944). But when they discovered that we're from Beijing, they increased the figure by 2,000 yuan," said Zhao Qian, who has a 6-year-old son and adopted a baby girl three years ago from an orphanage in Henan province. Zhao, who works for an NGO that helps lost children and abandoned babies, said her job ensured that her required donation came at a lower "internal price". However, adopters are usually asked to donate a much higher sum, especially if they are from overseas.

For those who live in Beijing, the hukou - China's system of hometown registration - is an additional problem. The local public security department will provide a child with a Beijing registration if it is the only child in the family or was adopted from an orphanage in the capital.

Without a Beijing hukou, Zhao will find it hard to register her adopted daughter at a public school in the city, because they give priority to children with a local hukou. If the child is unable to obtain a Beijing hukou, she may be able to attend school in the city, but will have to return to her place of birth to take the gaokao, the national college entrance examination.

In addition, the girl, who has a severely cleft palate, is not provided with the medical insurance issued to residents with a Beijing registration. "She needs to undergo a number of surgical procedures, so I have had to buy the insurance she requires, but it still doesn't offer as much protection as that issued to local residents."