According to the standard, a candidate will be required to provide detailed personal information including sex, age, height, education degree and marital history.

Other information that might be subject to change such as the applicant's job position, salary and living condition should not account for "the dominant part" of the advertisement, which was the case currently, the association said.

Candidates must present their ID cards and diplomas to support the information given, said Wang Weiming, an association official.

Information that might violate people's privacy such as his or her name and current employer will not be publicized unless the person requests for it to be made public, he added.

Wang said that most ads currently "exaggerated" a candidate, with some even resorting to cheating in the information given.

The draft, expected to be approved by the Shanghai Industrial and Commercial Administrative Bureau in June, will regulate the association's 48 members, officials said.

Zhou Jixiang with the Civil Affairs Bureau said locals can expect more creditable information from such ads if the draft is made effective.

The association is also applying to the industrial and commercial bureau to be made the watchdog for all spouse-wanted ads, including those placed by individuals, in the city.

(eastday.com February 20, 2003)