Following trial use in Huzhou City, east China, residents in the Chinese capital began to receive their new computerized ID cards Wednesday, marking the full start of China's efforts to upgrade its first-generation cards that have been used for nearly 20 years.

Beijing Public Security Bureau officials said at a Wednesday ceremony launching the citywide replacement program that the ID card replacement work will be carried out between April 2004 and June 2006.

The second-generation cards were also distributed previously late March in Shanghai and Shenzhen City of south China's Guangdong Province.

According to Miao Lin, director of the population management department of the bureau, the newly released plastic chip ID card contains information such as validity period, authorization institution and designs of the national emblem, the Great Wall and decorative patterns are printed on the front cover. The cardholder's name, gender, ethnicity, birthday, residence, ID number and photo are on the back cover.

The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) started to consider changing the first-generation ID cards a few years ago due to quality and security flaws in the old cards, which cannot be recognized by computers.

MPS hoped that the generation shift of China's ID cards will help to modernize China's population management work.

Digital anti-forgery technologies are used in making the new ID cards and greatly facilitate authentication and storage of the cards.

According to Miao, unlike before, young people aged below 16 are also entitled to apply for a second-generation ID card through their guardians' agency. The second-generation ID card has varying expiration periods ranging from 10 years for people aged between 16 and 25, 20 years for people aged between 26 and 45 and long-term for people older than 46.

In addition to Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, the new ID cards will be officially distributed nationwide in 2005 as the issuing of the first-generation cards halts. The shift is expected to finish by the end of 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2004)