A marriage databank is to be set up in Beijing this year to help the authorities prevent bigamy and bogus marriages.

Information on the database will be available to public security, civil affairs and population departments and women's federations.

At present, the marriage registration procedure in Beijing was quite simple, requiring only an ID card and residence booklet, said Li Ziwei, an official with the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau.

This failed to stop the use of fake documents by fraudsters intent on swindling their partners. Meanwhile, some people who had already married in other places married again in Beijing, Li said.

Beijing civil affairs departments set up a network two years ago to share marriage information, so that bigamy could be avoided, but the network only included information less than two years old.

The new databank would hold information such as ID numbers, residency, and marriage and divorce records from the public security, civil affairs and population departments and women's federations, Li said.

It is believed the information will be more comprehensive and complete. Marriage and divorce registrations done two years ago will also be available.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2007)