In 1995,China's elderly population reached 120 million,9.76 percent of the total population.By 2000,they will make up more than 10 percent of the total population,and China will have aged substantially.In 1993,the National Committee on Aging (now changed to the Chinese Association of Aging)was established,and similar organizations have been established at lower levels.With a growing number of retirees,almost every workplace has established a special office to handle pension affairs.These offices also inform retirees of major issues both in China and around the world,set up various activities,and discuss and solve difficulties with medical care and daily life.On holidays or festivals,retirees are invited back to their workplace to receive a briefing of the year's work and to be extended traditional holiday greetings.For those who have difficulties in moving about,the workplace sends personnel to visit them at home.Retirees under the age of 80 get a birthday cake once every five years,and those 80 and above every year. To safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of senior citizens and to see that they enjoy some dignity is a complicated project.On October 1,1996 the Law on Guaranteeing the Rights and Interests of Senior Citizens was enforced,aiming to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly,strengthen the awareness of their situation and carry forward Chinese traditions of respecting and supporting the old.According to the law, governments at various levels have to include retiree affairs in their planning,and increase investment in undertakings for the elderly year by year.Thus,the status of senior citizens is being given a more firm legal basis. China already has so large an aged population,it will be hard to rely merely on government and work units to assume the burden of supporting them.Here,we'll call for some family support.Chinese stress family bonds,and the tradition of respecting family elders.goes back centuries.Of course,this is also advocated to some extent in other countries.For a long period to come,most of China's elderly will continue to be provided for by their families. 909In 1995 , China' s elderly population reached 120 million , 9. 76 percent of the total population. By 2000 , they will make up more than 10 percent of the total population , and China will have aged substantially. In 1993 , the National Committee on Aging (now changed to the Chinese Association of Aging) was established , and similar organizations have been established at lower levels. With a growing number of retirees, almost every workplace has established a special office to handle pension affairs. Th巳se offices also inform retirees of major issues both in China and around the world , set up various activities, and discuss and solve difficulties with medical care and daily life. On holidays or festivals , retirees are invited back to their workplace to receive a briefing of the year' s work and to be extended traditional holiday greetings. For those who have difficulties in moving about , the workplace sends personnel to visit them at home. Retirees under the age of 80 get a birthday cake once every five years, and those 80 and above every year. To safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of senior citizens and to see that they enjoy some dignity is a complicated project. On October 1 , 1996 the Law on Guaranteeing the Rights and Interests of Senior Citizens was enforced , aiming to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly , strengthen the awareness of their situation and carry forward Chinese traditions of respecting and supporting the old. According to the law , governments at various levels have to include retiree affairs in their planning , and increase investment'\in undertakings for the elderly year by year. Thus, the status of senior citizens is being given a more firm legal basis. China already has so large an aged population , it will be hard to rely merely on government and work units to assume the burden of supporting them. Here , we' 11 call for some family support. Chinese stress family bonds, and the tradition of respecting family elders goes back centuries. Of course , this is also advocated to some extent in other countries. For a long period to come , most of China's elderly will continue to be provided for by their families. 909