A Chinese man, who was filing for a marriage certificate, claims that officials asked him to provide evidence of his illiteracy as he did not know how to read or write.

Zhu, is a 58-year-old native of Henan province, according to Chinese Business View. For more than 20 years, he has lived with his girlfriend Zhang in Xian, Shaanxi province.

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While trying to register for their marriage, Zhu had difficulty filling the form because he does not know how to read or write.

Zhu said that he thought of asking someone to help him fill up the form, but a certain official told him that he should fill it by himself. Zhu added that the official also said that if he could not do that, he should go home and ask local authorities to give him official evidence proving that he s illiterate.

Reporters, who went to the registration office, were able to ask a certain official named Fang regarding the matter. Fang, however, said that the registration office does not ask for such evidence, and noted that Zhu might have misunderstood.

Fang said that Zhu could have asked for help in filling the form, but he should be the one to sign as no one could sign on his behalf. The official said should he be unable to sign, a fingerprint would be enough.

Fang said that some have difficulty in acquiring a marriage certificate because the information they write in the form is different from the information found in their 'hukou,' or household registration.

In the end, however, Zhu was able to get his marriage certificate with the help of the registry staff.

Current Marriage Trends

Zhu is in contrast to the many Chinese people in Hong Kong who decide to stay unmarried.

Data released by the Census and Statistics Department showed that the number of unmarried males and females in Hong Kong have significantly risen from 1991 to 2011, reports the South China Morning Post. Divorce rates have also significantly risen in the same period.

Tagsmarriage, Marriage Certificate, Divorce, single, Henan, Shaanxi