THE Chinese government is to relax its traditional hold over the private lives of its subjects by allowing them to marry without the permission of their bosses.

In an outburst of apparent liberalism that may yet prove double-edged, the government has published three lengthy documents dealing with marriage laws and population control.

From Oct 1, applications for marriage will no longer have to be approved by the bride and groom's work units, while the health examinations currently forced on both will also cease to be compulsory. Aids sufferers and others with infectious diseases will no longer be banned from marrying. State media said the measures were aimed at bringing the law up to date with modern China and a growing acceptance that people were entitled to a private life.

At the same time, the government published an agenda for dealing with broader population issues which hinted at reforms to the one-child policy. But there is no suggestion it might be scrapped, or...