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| China debates sex change rules | China debates sex change rules |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| China is set to formalise the rules covering sex change operations to ensure that all those who want surgery meet certain requirements. | |
| Those who apply for a sex change must be single, over 20 and have wanted the surgery for at least five years. | Those who apply for a sex change must be single, over 20 and have wanted the surgery for at least five years. |
| The proposed new guidelines, posted on the ministry of health's website, have been distributed for public discussion. | The proposed new guidelines, posted on the ministry of health's website, have been distributed for public discussion. |
| There could be hundreds of thousands of Chinese people wanting the surgery, news reports suggest. | There could be hundreds of thousands of Chinese people wanting the surgery, news reports suggest. |
| Largely hidden | Largely hidden |
| The new rules aim to improve the oversight of sex change operations in China and ensure their safety, the ministry says. | The new rules aim to improve the oversight of sex change operations in China and ensure their safety, the ministry says. |
| It says those who want surgery must have openly lived and worked as a member of the opposite gender for at least two years. | It says those who want surgery must have openly lived and worked as a member of the opposite gender for at least two years. |
| They must have received psychological counselling for at least a year and have told their families about their wishes. | They must have received psychological counselling for at least a year and have told their families about their wishes. |
| China's public security bureau must also agree to change the person's sex on their identify documents. | China's public security bureau must also agree to change the person's sex on their identify documents. |
| It was not initially clear whether or not the police would approve this change. | It was not initially clear whether or not the police would approve this change. |
| A spokesman from Beijing's public security bureau said he had not heard of the proposed regulations so could not comment. | A spokesman from Beijing's public security bureau said he had not heard of the proposed regulations so could not comment. |
| Nearly 2,000 people are believed to have had a sex change in China, according to experts quoted by the state-run China Daily newspaper - and there could be up to 400,000 people considering having the surgery. | Nearly 2,000 people are believed to have had a sex change in China, according to experts quoted by the state-run China Daily newspaper - and there could be up to 400,000 people considering having the surgery. |
| These proposed rules shows the government is becoming increasingly concerned about a group of people who are largely hidden in Chinese society, one expert told the newspaper. | These proposed rules shows the government is becoming increasingly concerned about a group of people who are largely hidden in Chinese society, one expert told the newspaper. |
| Health professionals have until 10 July to comment on the proposals. | Health professionals have until 10 July to comment on the proposals. |