Citizens say filial law mostly 'symbolic'   

“常回家看看”入法引质疑 父母叹不舍控告孩子

Hangzhou (ECNS) -- An amended law requiring children to regularly visit their aging parents has been welcomed by many, but some say it will only be symbolic.

Reporters interviewed citizens for their views on the new law in east China's Hangzhou city on Tuesday.

An 80-year-old woman named Shen Chunhua said few parents would sue their children even if they fail to visit regularly. Referring to her only son, Shen said calmly, "he is too busy."

Ke Penghua, a migrant worker from Jiangxi Province, told reporters that she hadn't gone home in the past three years. Going back is laborious and expensive, so it is more practical to call them often, she said.

Zhao Yingchen, an employee in a private enterprise, said it is a great policy, but will be difficult to carry out, as many young people are caught between careers and filial responsibility.

Zheng Guanjun, a lawyer, said the law doesn't give an exact definition of how often children should go back to see their elders, and lacks mandatory enforcement. "It is primarily aimed at urging all of society to pay more attention to elders," he added.

Zheng said that as many as 49.7 percent of elderly parents live alone, and that a rapidly aging society poses a major challenge to the country.

The government and social groups have taken responsibility to take care of the elderly, but the main consolation still comes from family, according to Wang Ping, a researcher at the Zhejiang Provincial Social Science Academy.