Story highlights China says it will end organ transplants from executed prisoners from January 1

Traditional beliefs discourage organ donation in China and rates are very low

Donors are also put off by fears their organs may end up traded for profit

Cultural beliefs make it difficult to end the reliance on convicts' organs

(CNN) Like many Chinese, Beijing bank clerk Zhou Keran shudders when asked if he would donate his organs should he die.

"I would never. There's an old saying that our parents give us everything -- from our bodies to our hair -- and we have to show obedience to our family."

China said on Thursday it would end the harvesting of organs from executed prisoners on January 1 and while the move has been welcomed by human rights groups, it's hard to see how China can wean itself from the controversial practice if the views of people like Zhou are anything to go by.

Traditional beliefs regard the body as sacred and it should remain intact after death.

What's more, even if people are prepared to donate, there are fears that their body parts may be traded for profit and end up on the black market.

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