Baby hatches help protection: official

Baby hatches to receive abandoned infants will help to protect such babies and are in line with the law.

Dou Yupei, vice civil affairs minister, made the remarks at a press conference on Thursday in response to a question about a plan to let parents leave unwanted children at a "baby haven" in south China's Shenzhen City.

Abandoning children is a criminal offense in China, so the move has raised some eyebrows. Many believe the "baby haven" may reduce the sense of parental guilt and encourage such acts. Without such places of safety, parents conceal newborns in hidden places that are not be easily found, causing the deaths of many unwanted babies.

Baby hatches are in line with the principle of protecting lives and assures children's rights without conflicting with the law, Dou said, adding that such facilities are used in many foreign countries.

Dou promised better protection and welfare for orphans, street children and those infected with HIV. The government will improve the social assistance for underprivileged people with serious illness.

Medical assistance is still a weak point within the social assistance network and work is needed to cover more people in need and increase payments for patients.

Dou called on charities and volunteers to help underprivileged groups.