Taipei (Fides Service) - In mainland China the population is steadily growing and has now reached 1.2 billion. While on the island of Taiwan the birth rate is dwindling. In the 1950s women brought up an average of 6 children. In 2000 the birth rate was 1.4 child per couple. Today in Taiwan with 20% of the people over 65 and the government wants to rejuvenate the island. Minister of internal affairs has announced a series of incentives to families, including tax cuts for families with 3 children and a bonus of 30,000 yuan for large families. (Fides Service 23/10/2002)