BEIJING: An initiative to simplify the marriage registration process has sparked public concerns about identity theft and bigamy, but others view it as a positive step toward promoting marriage freedom.
According to draft revisions to the Marriage Registration Regulation released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Tuesday for public feedback, couples applying for marriage certificates will no longer need to submit their hukou, or household registration documents. Instead, they will only be required to present their ID cards and sign declarations confirming they are not currently married or closely related. The deadline for public feedback is Sept 11.
The proposed removal of the hukou — which contains detailed information such as marital status and family composition — as a mandatory document for obtaining marriage certificates has raised concerns among internet users about the potential for identity theft and bigamy.
The draft emphasizes that authorities will enhance data sharing among the ministries of foreign affairs and public security to ensure that marriage data is “updated in a timely manner and is accurate, complete and secure”. However, some members of the public expressed concerns.
“Without checking hukou, how can I verify my fiance’s marital and parental status?” one user on the Sina Weibo micro-blogging platform asked. Another user expressed concerns about people losing their ID cards and unknowingly being listed as married fraudulently.
–The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
