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China eyeing household registration reform

BEIJING, May 23 (UPI) -- The Chinese government may soon change its population registration system to give those migrating between rural and urban areas more freedom.

China's Xinhua news agency said Wednesday the proposed reform would allow citizens to adjust their residence registration to gain access to valuable public services they would have lost out on under the old two-tiered system.

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The proposed new system from the public security ministry also would allow married couples and the elderly the ability to register their new households when relocating.

The proposal also comes after a China Youth Daily social survey center poll showed exactly how frustrated Chinese citizens are with the current registration system. The poll of 11,168 people found 92 percent said the current "hukou" system was desperately in need of repair.

Xinhua said that while nationwide implementation of the proposed system is still being considered, local governments are already adding similar reforms on a trial basis.

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