Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

The following text is a translated excerpt obtained from a [translation] "Notice Concerning Standardization of the Issuance of Medical Certificates of Birth," released on 4 May 2009 by the Fujian Provincial Ministry of Health, the Fujian Provincial Ministry of Public Security, and the Fujian Provincial Ministry of Justice:

Annex 6

ESSENTIALS FOR DISTINGUISHING MEDICAL CERTIFICATES OF BIRTH

1. Explanation Concerning Various Versions of Medical Certificates of Birth
    
   1. Version One: Introduced in 1996. The round “Chinese Mother and Child Health” symbol that shows when the Medical Certificate of Birth is placed under ultraviolet light lacks a “five-point star” symbol on the upper right.
   2. Version Two: Introduced in 1999. Security feature added: A colourless, fluorescent anti-counterfeiting “five-point star” symbol that shows under ultraviolet light was added on the upper right of the round “Chinese Mother and Child Health” symbol. A few words in the first version of the Medical Certificate of Birth were also revised: The English translation of the Chinese for “Birth Certificate No.” at the bottom of the “Medical Certificate of Birth” was changed from “Birth No.” to “Birth certificate No.”, and the small “c” in “china” in the English explanation on the right side of the Medical Certificate of Birth was changed to a capital “C”.
   3. Version Three: Introduced in 2003. The Medical Certificate of Birth went from two detachable counterfoils to three. The additional counterfoil was for the birthing facility to keep. Working with the original anti-counterfeiting printing technology, a special graphic watermark was used, with the watermark image being a gear wheel with the centre encircling a five-point star. Hidden in the territorial image of China and ring-shaped motif are the “Chinese Mother and Child Health symbol” and “five-point star” images, which show under ultraviolet light.
      Beginning on December 1, 2004, an electronic watermark security barcode was added at the “Birth Certificate No.” location on the copy and detachable counterfoils of the Medical Certificate of Birth. When the detection plate is pressed flat over the security watermark barcode at 0 degree, the security watermark bar shows the words “birth certificate”; when it is turned counter-clockwise 60 degrees, the security watermark bar shows the words “population registration”; when it is turned counter-clockwise 120 degrees, the security watermark bar displays the letters “CSYXZM” (which are the first letters of each Chinese character in “Medical Certificate of Birth” when spelled out in pinyin romanization [Chu-Sheng Yi-Xue Zheng-Ming]).
       
2. Explanation of “Medical Certificate of Birth” Number
    
   1. The Medical Certificate of Birth uses a standardized region-based number, with the regional units being provinces, autonomous regions and cities directly under the central government. For the province of Fujian, the certificate number starts with the regional number “35.”
   2. Beginning in 2000, the Resident’s Identity Card number on the Medical Certificate of Birth increased from 15 digits to 18.
   3. Starting in 2000, an English letter, chosen in alphabetical order, began to be added in front of the number of the Medical Certificate of Birth. For example, in the starting year of 2000, an “A” was placed in front of the number, while in 2001 a “B” was placed in front of the number, and so on. (Fujian 4 May 2009)

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Fujian. 4 May 2009. Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Security, and Provincial Ministry of Justice. "Notice Concerning Standardization of the Issuance of Medical Certificates of Birth." Unofficial translation by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada. [Accessed 18 Dec. 2017]