Beijing may begin implementing China's new one-child policy as early next year, said Zhang Xiufang, a standing committee official in the Beijing Municipal People's Congress.

The central government announced last month that it would roll out changes to the country's one-child policy, which has been in place since 1979. The new policy will allow married couples to have two children if one spouse is an only child.

The Beijing People's Congress's standing committee has begun reviewing a draft amendment to local family planning regulations submitted by the Beijing municipal government.

The standing committee will have a final vote on the draft amendment early next year. If the amendment passes, it could go into effect as early as next March, Zhang said.

The one-child policy has been strictly enforced in the Chinese capital, leading to a greater number of only-child parents. The city also faces population, resource and environmental challenges.

The new policy will not change the financial assistance given to "shidu" parents who have lost their only child, Zhang said.

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