The registration booklets for both marriage and divorce are expected to change colour, from red and green, respectively, to dark red for both, reports Beijing Star Daily.

Marriage registration booklets used to be bright red, to reflect the happiness and festive spirit associated with weddings.

Divorce booklets, however, were green, as if to imply that green book holders were "losers" or otherwise unfortunate, the newspaper said.

Officials with the civil affairs ministry said that because the two booklets belong to the same family of legal documents, neither should bear colours evoking a particular sentiment.

The final decision has yet to be announced, but dark red will most likely be chosen, said the officials.

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