Chinese director faces huge fine from family planning authorities

Film director Zhang Yimou is facing a fine of 7.3 million yuan (£728,000) for breaking China's strict one child policy.

Zhang and his wife Chen Ting have admitted that they have three children, after stories began to emerge in the press earlier this year that they may have had as many as seven.

She gave birth to two sons in 2001 and 2004, and then a daughter in 2006 before the pair married in 2011.

[Zhang Yimou in talks to direct Josh Brolin in Quasimodo]

In an interview with the Chinese government news agency Xinhua, he said: “For me and my parents, we wish to have more children as in traditional views, they could bring more happiness

“My father told me prior to his death that he hoped I could have a son to continue the family line and my mother also believed that with more children, they could have more companions.

“As a public figure, I and my wife must assist the sweeping investigations by the family planning authorities and also are willing to make a public apology.”

[Zhang Yimou sued for extra children]

The fine for the violation of the law is based on the household earnings of the film director.

The policy was initiated in the late 1970s to curb the population explosion, with one child per couple being the limit in urban areas and two, if the first child was a girl, in rural areas.

Zhang has directed acclaimed international hits such as 'Hero', 'House of Flying Daggers' and 'The Flowers of War', with Christian Bale.