13 Million abortions in China and age of pregnant women falls

Beijing Over 13 million abortions are conducted in the country every year. If we take into accountmedically induced abortions and procedures carried out in backstreet premises, theannual number is even higher.

Among female adolescents who have premarital sex, more than 20 percent have unwantedpregnancies, of which up to 91 percent end in abortion. The repeat abortion situation isparticularly serious.

Zhao Lei (pseudonym), 26, quit her job two years ago in Beijing and returned home to getmarried. She and her husband have been trying to have a baby. Her doctor has told ZhaoLei that a tubal blockage has rendered her infertile. The cause of the blockage, the doctorsays, was an abortion.

While working in Beijing, Zhao Lei had a boyfriend. She recalls her fear and anxiety whenshe first learned of her unwanted pregnancy. Given the couple's limited economic means,they finally decided to give up this baby. Zhao Lei took the subway to a hospital far fromwhere she lives and works, deliberately in order not to encounter any acquaintances.

Zhao Lei is now going from one doctor to another in search of a treatment for herinfertility. Recalling the abortion, Zhao Lei says: “I will never forget the pain I wentthrough when I had the abortion. I will never forget it as long as I live."

Data published by China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission indicatesthat it is predominantly younger people who are choosing to have abortions. Almost half ofthe reported procedures were conducted on women below the age of 25, the majority ofwhom were university students.

Misled by some private hospital’s leaflets promising "painless abortion", more and moreyoung Chinese no longer take the matter seriously, as if abortion were "safe, affordable,and with no impact on work".

Deceptive adverting is certainly one factor influencing the high rate of terminations; lackof awareness about sexual safety seems to be another important contributor.

A recent survey showed that more than 68 percent of Chinese women were confused aboutthe difference between oral contraceptives and the morning-after pill. Just 1.2 percent ofChinese women take oral contraceptives, compared with 30 percent to 50 percent ofwomen in some developed countries.

Unwanted pregnancy is not the only issue that has arisen from China’s lack of sexeducation - 86 percent of youngsters doesn't know about HIV/AIDS prevention accordingto a recent survey. Parents and schools have to rethink their attitude towards teachingyoung people about safe sex. 

HK continues to be world's freest economy

Hong Kong - Hong Kong continued to be the world's freest economy, despite a slight drop in total score from last year due to the decline of perceived level of corruption, the Hong Kong government said on Wednesday.

The 2015 Index of Economic Freedom Report released by the Washington based Heritage Foundation on January 27 (Washington, DC, time), revealed that Hong Kong has been ranked the world's freest economy for 21 consecutive years with an overall score of 89.6 (on a scale from 0 to 100). 

Singapore ranked second with 89.4, followed by New Zealand, 82. 1, Australia, 81.5 and Switzerland, 80.5.

Among the 10 Economic Freedom Components measured in the report, Hong Kong continued to come in first in business freedom, trade freedom and financial freedom; second in investment freedom.

Hong Kong's overall score edged down 0.5 points from last year was mainly due to a drop in the ranking in "freedom from corruption" in the index, which, a government spokesman said, was ascribed to high-profile cases that impacted perceptions about corruption in the special administrative region.

In respond to the report, local graft-buster Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said, extensive media coverage on some of the cases, including the prosecutions and convictions of a former senior government official, may have affected respondents' impression. 

Rafael Hui, Hong Kong's former Chief Secretary, and Thomas Kwok, co-chairman of Sun Hung Kai Properties, a local major developer, were found guilty in a corruption case in December. 

Yet, the ICAC said, these isolated cases should not be seen as an indicator of deterioration in the probity situation in Hong Kong. According to the 2014 ICAC Annual Survey conducted by an independent research company, only 1.5 percent of respondents had come across corruption in the past 12 months, showing a very low level of corruption.

"We are keenly aware of competition from other economies within and outside the region. We always try to keep up with the latest global economic developments, and strive to enhance our competitiveness," the spokesman said.