In 2006, public security agencies in China continued the reforms of the residential registration administration. There are 12 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China, unified initially the residential registration system for cities and rural areas respectively. Public security agencies continued issuing identity cards of the 2^nd generation to 200 million residents three months ahead of the initial schedule. By the end of December 2006, 400 million residents had got their new identity cards of the 2^nd generation.