Shenzhen's newborn sex ratio imbalance dropped dramatically from 118 in 2002 to 108 in 2004, closer to the 103-107 range suggested by the United Nations last year.
   
The sex ratio is the number of males per 100 females.
   
Traditional views that only sons will carry on the family name meant there were a lot more boys born than girls in many places in China.

The city's population authorities posted a reward of 1,000 yuan (US$120) to 2,000 yuan for those who reported practices of fetus sex discrimination, and joined hands with health authorities to crack down on 2,260 illegal clinics that carried out this operation in the past year. The city will continue the "caring for girls" project this year to ensure the survival and health of baby girls.

(Shenzhen Daily April 15, 2005)