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New China law says children 'must visit parents' | New China law says children 'must visit parents' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Grown children in China must visit their parents or potentially face fines or jail, a new law that came into effect on Monday says. | Grown children in China must visit their parents or potentially face fines or jail, a new law that came into effect on Monday says. |
China's new "Elderly Rights Law" deals with the growing problem of lonely elderly people by ordering adult children to visit their ageing parents. | |
The law says adults should care about their parents "spiritual needs" and "never neglect or snub elderly people". | The law says adults should care about their parents "spiritual needs" and "never neglect or snub elderly people". |
The regulation has been ridiculed by tens of thousands of Chinese web users. | |
Many across China are questioning how the law could be enforced, since it fails to spell out a detailed schedule dictating the frequency with which children should make parental house calls. | |
"Those who live far away from parents should go home often," it says. | |
However, that does not mean the law is toothless. | However, that does not mean the law is toothless. |
Instead, it serves as an "educational message" to the public, while also serving as a starting point for law suits, explained Zhang Yan Feng, a lawyer with Beijing's King & Capital Law Firm. | Instead, it serves as an "educational message" to the public, while also serving as a starting point for law suits, explained Zhang Yan Feng, a lawyer with Beijing's King & Capital Law Firm. |
"It's hard to put this law into practice, but not impossible," Mr Zhang explained. | "It's hard to put this law into practice, but not impossible," Mr Zhang explained. |
"If a case is brought to court on the basis of this law, I think it'll probably end up in a peaceful settlement. But if no settlement is reached, technically speaking, court rulings can force the person to visit home certain times a month." | "If a case is brought to court on the basis of this law, I think it'll probably end up in a peaceful settlement. But if no settlement is reached, technically speaking, court rulings can force the person to visit home certain times a month." |
"If this person disobeys court rulings, he could be fined or detained." | "If this person disobeys court rulings, he could be fined or detained." |
'Spontaneous emotions' | 'Spontaneous emotions' |
But few in China seem to fear they will end up behind bars if they fail to log visits home. | But few in China seem to fear they will end up behind bars if they fail to log visits home. |
"Who doesn't want to visit home often? What is considered "often"? Who will oversee the process?" complained one poster on weibo, China's version of Twitter. | "Who doesn't want to visit home often? What is considered "often"? Who will oversee the process?" complained one poster on weibo, China's version of Twitter. |
"We all know to cherish our elderly parents, but sometimes we are just too busy trying to make a living and the pressure is too much." | "We all know to cherish our elderly parents, but sometimes we are just too busy trying to make a living and the pressure is too much." |
"It's fine that no-one is paying for us to visit our parents, but is there someone who can give us time off to do it?" asked another. | |
The question of how to deal with ageing parents is a mounting problem in China. | |
According to Chinese government statistics, more than 178 million people in China were 60 years or older in 2010. By 2030, that figure will double. | According to Chinese government statistics, more than 178 million people in China were 60 years or older in 2010. By 2030, that figure will double. |
As China's population goes grey, the Chinese media fills with stories of neglected old people. | As China's population goes grey, the Chinese media fills with stories of neglected old people. |
Many were shocked by the story of a 91-year-old grandmother who was beaten and forced out of her home in China's southern Jiangsu province after she asked her daughter-in-law for a bowl of rice porridge. | Many were shocked by the story of a 91-year-old grandmother who was beaten and forced out of her home in China's southern Jiangsu province after she asked her daughter-in-law for a bowl of rice porridge. |
Two days later, internet forums were filled with a similar story of farmers in the same province who allowed their family's 100-year-old matriarch to sleep in a pig sty, sharing close quarters with a pungent pig. | Two days later, internet forums were filled with a similar story of farmers in the same province who allowed their family's 100-year-old matriarch to sleep in a pig sty, sharing close quarters with a pungent pig. |
But those stories have not lead most people to support the new Elderly Rights Law. | But those stories have not lead most people to support the new Elderly Rights Law. |
"Family bonds should be based on spontaneous emotions," argued one weibo user. | "Family bonds should be based on spontaneous emotions," argued one weibo user. |
"It's funny to make it part of a law; it's like requiring couples to have a harmonious sex life after marriage." | "It's funny to make it part of a law; it's like requiring couples to have a harmonious sex life after marriage." |
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