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| Chinese officials ask to borrow orphans to hide child welfare failings | Chinese officials ask to borrow orphans to hide child welfare failings |
| (3 months later) | |
| Chinese officials attempted to cover up their failure to help needy children by borrowing a dozen orphans being cared for by a nearby Buddhist temple, state media has reported. | Chinese officials attempted to cover up their failure to help needy children by borrowing a dozen orphans being cared for by a nearby Buddhist temple, state media has reported. |
| The bizarre request – rebuffed by an abbot – was an attempt to prevent inspectors from discovering the district had never run an orphanage, as claimed, despite receiving funding for the project. | The bizarre request – rebuffed by an abbot – was an attempt to prevent inspectors from discovering the district had never run an orphanage, as claimed, despite receiving funding for the project. |
| The government of Rongcheng in Jieyang, southern Guangdong province, has apologised, sacked two staff and pledged to spend 3m yuan (£300,000) caring for such children after a video of the incident was circulated online. | The government of Rongcheng in Jieyang, southern Guangdong province, has apologised, sacked two staff and pledged to spend 3m yuan (£300,000) caring for such children after a video of the incident was circulated online. |
| Xinhua state news agency said although the district had built a facility 17 years ago, it had never been occupied by orphans. Instead it was used as an office and as housing for government workers. | Xinhua state news agency said although the district had built a facility 17 years ago, it had never been occupied by orphans. Instead it was used as an office and as housing for government workers. |
| When provincial officials launched new checks on childcare provision, after the outcry over a fatal fire in an unlicensed orphanage in Henan province, their subordinates appear to have panicked. | When provincial officials launched new checks on childcare provision, after the outcry over a fatal fire in an unlicensed orphanage in Henan province, their subordinates appear to have panicked. |
| "Do the government a favour," Huang Jianwei, a local government worker, urged the abbot of Zifeng temple, home to more than 50 children. "The orphanage in Rongcheng does not actually exist. We need some of these orphaned kids to show to higher level officials." | "Do the government a favour," Huang Jianwei, a local government worker, urged the abbot of Zifeng temple, home to more than 50 children. "The orphanage in Rongcheng does not actually exist. We need some of these orphaned kids to show to higher level officials." |
| An official from the civil affairs department who accompanied him claimed they had hoped the temple would consign the orphans to their care permanently. | An official from the civil affairs department who accompanied him claimed they had hoped the temple would consign the orphans to their care permanently. |
| Huang Chenghui told Xinhua: "It was not true to say we do not have an orphanage ... It's just that we have not begun a thorough investigation of the local orphan situation." | Huang Chenghui told Xinhua: "It was not true to say we do not have an orphanage ... It's just that we have not begun a thorough investigation of the local orphan situation." |
| But Rongcheng civil affairs officials later apologised and said the offices would be moved so a facility for children could open by the end of June. | But Rongcheng civil affairs officials later apologised and said the offices would be moved so a facility for children could open by the end of June. |
| "I found it shocking that the local civil affairs bureau not only failed to provide shelter for the orphaned children, but also tried to cover up the fact by taking advantage of the monastery, which was actually doing the government's job of caring for orphans," Xia Chuhui, the local freelance journalist who recorded the conversation, told the Global Times newspaper. | "I found it shocking that the local civil affairs bureau not only failed to provide shelter for the orphaned children, but also tried to cover up the fact by taking advantage of the monastery, which was actually doing the government's job of caring for orphans," Xia Chuhui, the local freelance journalist who recorded the conversation, told the Global Times newspaper. |
| Guangdong civil affairs officials declined to comment, referring the Guardian to coverage in the Chinese media, where a spokesperson described the incident as "irresponsible and wrong". | Guangdong civil affairs officials declined to comment, referring the Guardian to coverage in the Chinese media, where a spokesperson described the incident as "irresponsible and wrong". |
| China Daily says official statistics show only 64 of the country's 2,853 counties have child welfare homes. The ministry of civil affairs has promised to help 500 more build facilities by the end of 2015. | China Daily says official statistics show only 64 of the country's 2,853 counties have child welfare homes. The ministry of civil affairs has promised to help 500 more build facilities by the end of 2015. |
| The fire in Henan is the latest case to raise concern about the treatment of vulnerable children in China. There was widespread soul-searching after five homeless boys were found dead in a rubbish bin in Guizhou, south-west China, in November. They died of carbon monoxide poisoning, apparently after lighting charcoal to keep warm. | The fire in Henan is the latest case to raise concern about the treatment of vulnerable children in China. There was widespread soul-searching after five homeless boys were found dead in a rubbish bin in Guizhou, south-west China, in November. They died of carbon monoxide poisoning, apparently after lighting charcoal to keep warm. |
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