It was “seriously inaccurate” to report that China will set up 50 provinces, an official with the Ministry of Civil Affairs told Xinhua on Monday.  

Dai Junliang, director of the Department of Administrative Divisions and Place-Names, made the remark in response to some recent media reports, both domestically and overseas, saying that China will divide its existing provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions into 50 provincial-level administrative regions.

In recent years, many people have discussed changing China’s division of administrative regions, Dai said. Last year, a mainland newspaper carried a “50 provinces” report that claimed to be quoting Dai himself.

“In fact, the reporter who wrote that story has never interviewed me. We still have never met each other or had any telephone conversation,” said Dai. “I don’t know where his story came from.”

In a recent interview with a Hong Kong-based newspaper, Dai said that it would be reasonable for China to set up 50 or so provincial-level administrative regions, in light of the sizes of China’s territory and population.

However, Dai said, it would be unrealistic at present for China to divide its existing provinces on a large scale. Such a division would have a negative impact on social stability while increasing administrative management costs. Thus, China will not make such a move in the near future, said Dai.

“I again solemnly declare that it is seriously inaccurate to report that China will set up 50 provinces,” Dai noted. “I hope the public will not believe such rumors.”

China has now 32 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions and two special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macao.

The “50 provinces” report was not carried on this website.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2004)