SHENZHEN, Guangdong, Nov. 28 -- Abandoned babies would have a better chance of survival if infant incubators were set up in Chinese cities. The proposal is being pushed forward by social welfare organizations to save children.

The first such "safety booth" was set up in Shijiazhuang City, north China's Hebei Province, three years ago.

South China's boom town of Shenzhen announced this week that it has applied to Guangdong Provincial government to pilot a safety booth next year.

The plan, however, has triggered debate on the Internet. Those opposed to the idea say it will indulge irresponsible parents to give away their unwanted child.

A netizen named Maomaogege said on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-style microblog service, that the booth is a bill paid for by the government for immoral parents.

In response, Tang Rongsheng, head of Shenzhen Social Welfare Center, said the booth would improve the survival chances of an abandoned child.

According to the application, the booth will be a 10-square-meter steel structure with an infant incubator, a time-delay alarm button and a LED sign.

The booth is expected to be located 200 meters away from a welfare house and 20 meters from the nearest hospital.