The annual enlistment of servicemen will start later this month in Beijing, with the age of male candidates being lowered to 17 for the first time.

Meanwhile, the physical requirements are also to be adjusted, with the height of male candidates increasing from 1.6 to 1.62 meters and that of females up 0.02 meters to 1.6 meters.

The proportion of on-campus college students will also increase.

Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau is working with other departments to change the payment of allowances to families of volunteers.

It is the first change in the regulations on allowances in ten years.

A videophone conference in September on the nationwide military enlistment called for strengthening of education in national defense and military service and urged more Chinese youth to dedicate themselves to military service.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2003)