Hefty fine for violating one-child policy

DPA/Beijing

Chinese film director Zhang Yimou was slapped yesterday with a 7.5mn-yuan ($1.2mn) fine for violating the country’s one-child policy by having three children, reported the China News Service.

Zhang, 62, had in the past apologised for breaching the family policy and said that he was willing to accept “investigation and punishment” for the breach.

The decision was handed down by the family planning office of the city of Wuxi, reported the news service.

Authorities called the violation “serious”.

Usually such infractions result in a fine equal to one year of the couple’s regular pay.

Rumours began to circulate in May that Zhang and his wife, actress Chen Ting, had violated the family size rules, which have in recent decades limited urban families to one child.

During the course of the investigation, Zhang has denied speculation that he had fathered seven children between Cheng and three other women.

Zhang is an internationally acclaimed director whose films include Raise the Red Lantern, To Live, and House of Flying Daggers.