Children under 16 should not stay out overnight or live alone outside their families, according to a new regulation on minors' protection in south China's Guangdong Province.

The regulation, which goes into effect on January 1, did not specify the deadline for minors to go home at night.

The regulation emphasized the responsibilities of parents or guardians to protect minors from addiction to the Internet, alcohol, cigarettes, or leading a vagrant life, said Yang Jianguang who was in charge of drafting the regulation.

"These are the new problems threatening the growth of minors, or children under 18, since Chinese society has seen significant changes in recent years," he said. The regulation comes as an amendment to the 1989 version.

Minors should not stay alone in vehicles without the care of their parents of guardians. Children under 12 should not be seated beside the driver, according to the regulation.

The regulation also stipulates schools provide more toilets for girl students.

China's revised law on protection of minors went into effect on June 1, 2007, based on which local authorities have their own and specific regulations.

(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2008)