SHENZHEN is moving to deepen reforms in its civil affairs arena, including loosening registration requirements for social organizations and increasing welfare benefits for children, the elderly and low-income families, officials with Shenzhen Civil Affairs Bureau said Wednesday.

    Bureau chief Du Peng said Shenzhen is exploring a pilot program that will allow Hong Kong-based economic and social organizations to set up branches in Qianhai and take advantage of a simplified application and approval processes.

    Local social organizations will also benefit from more relaxed regulations, Du said.

    Social organizations, for example, need not apply for approval to set up, change or close a branch. A competition mode will be introduced into professional and trade associations, allowing more groups within the same profession to start up, grow and compete. Social organizations in charity, environment, culture and entertainment are also encouraged to register and develop.

    By the end of last year Shenzhen was home to nearly 1,000 daycare centers and elderly community housing facilities. Today the city particularly encourages enterprises to develop nursing homes for the elderly. Three new nursing homes backed by an investment of 1.15 billion yuan (US$189 million) are expected to commence construction this year. By 2020 the city plans to establish at least 36 new centers and organizations for seniors to live or enjoy their spare time.

    (Zhang Yang)

    Shenzhen will increase subsidies and welfare for newborns, children with a single parent whose families are financially disadvantaged and children with disabilities or a serious illness. The city also plans to increase the minimum living standard subsidy for low-income people, from 560 yuan per person per month to 610 yuan per person per month.

    Shenzhen will establish a community service center and a community home network in all the residential communities across the city by 2015, as well as establish a psychological care center in those communities by 2017. About half of the communities will be equipped with a community charitable fund by 2017. That means by then nearly 400 communities in Shenzhen will own hold than I million in the fund.