Some newly-passed laws and regulations, which will have a major impact on people's daily lives, will go into force from October 1, China's National Day.

From October 1, tourists can take US$3,000 out of China at one time if they stay abroad for less than half a year, and US$5,000 if they stay for more than half a year, according to a new regulation by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

Before that, Chinese tourists could take only US$2,000 out of China at one time.

From October 1, Chinese people can get married or divorced without certification letters from their work units, and the compulsory health examination before marriage also will be removed, according to the new marriage registry regulation.

In the past, Chinese could not get married or divorced without permission of their work units and must have a health examination before marriage, which has become just a formality or money-making procedure in some areas.

From October 1, those who are engaged in the illegal making, buying and selling, transporting or storing of tetramine, a hyper-toxic rat poison, and other prohibited hyper-toxic chemicals will face serious punishment, even the death penalty, according to the legal explanation by China's Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate.

From October 1, Chinese people can enjoy more imported fruits and vegetables at a lower price because China and Thailand will scrap tariffs on bilateral trade for 188 kinds of fruits and vegetables.

From October 1, practitioners of Chinese medicine, who usually follow the tradition of learning from masters and need not have an official qualification, must pass a qualification exam before practicing, according to China's new regulation on traditional Chinese medicine.

The establishment of the regulation is considered "a historic step" in the country's lawmaking on traditional Chinese medicine.

In addition, China's law on prevention and control of radiation pollution and many local regulations concerning people's daily lives will go into effect on October 1.

(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2003)