Director Zhang Yimou has apologized for violating the family planning policy. Photo provided to China Daily

Zhang's case to follow the law

Director sued over family planning breach

The Chinese director who dazzled the world in 2008 with his Beijing Olympics opening ceremony apologized on Sunday for violating the nation's family planning policy.

Zhang Yimou, 62, who also directed the blockbusters Red Sorghum, Raise the Red Lantern and House of Flying Daggers, admitted in a video interview with Xinhua News Agency that he had "done wrong" and that the incident has harmed his reputation "tremendously".

"I have done wrong and won't blame anyone else. I will cooperate fully with family planning authorities in the city of Wuxi," Zhang told Xinhua.

The media interview was Zhang's first since online reports surfaced in May accusing him of having fathered at least seven children with multiple women and saying he faced a fine of 160 million yuan ($26.4 million).

In November, the family planning authority in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, where Zhang's children's hukou — household registration — is located, said they were unable to find Zhang. Meanwhile, the authority faced growing public pressure over "fairness" in handling Zhang's case.

On Dec 1, in a statement published through his studio, Zhang acknowledged that he and his wife, Chen Ting, gave birth to two sons and a daughter, and he is willing to pay fines.

On Dec 10, Yao Hongwen, spokesman for the National Health and Family Planning Commission, promised that Zhang will receive no favoritism, adding that "nobody is entitled to give birth to more children than allowed".

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