Property policy leads to divorce boom in SW China (2)

"It is the loophole that forced people to resort to the inappropriate ways," wrote netizen "ONLY_MR."

"I think the local government should improve its policy-making ability, and citizens should be better educated on marriage and divorce," wrote blogger "Yegenglan."

Authorities said the upsurge in divorce cases has exceeded expectations.

It's not the first time that such a thing has happened in China, though. Similar cases were reported in Shanghai a few years ago, when the municipal government limited new apartment purchases to one per family. Many couples planned to dodge the rule through fake divorces, and some even turned to companies selling bogus certificates for a phony divorce certificate in order to buy more new apartments.

"The government should be more open and precise when making public policies," said Zhou Xiaozheng, a sociology professor at Renmin University of China. "It should hold more public hearings and solicit advice from experts and the general public."

"There's nothing wrong with people wanting to maximize their interests, but the government needs to make sure that the policy has no loopholes," he added.

Wang Zhongwu, a sociology professor at Shandong University, voiced concerns about the negative effects of the "fake divorces."

"What if those 'fake divorces' turn real?" Wang said.

"'Fake divorce' does not violate the law, but it's against traditional Chinese values. Improper public policies might drive people away from traditional values," he added.