From Chinese Press

Implement smoking ban strictly

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-13 07:53

The introduction of more stringent rules to ban smoking in public places by the Health Ministry alone won't improve the situation, because many local governments still depend on tobacco sales for a large part of their funds, says an article in Oriental Morning Post. Excerpts:

On May 10, a Health Ministry official said the smoking ban would be extended to all indoor public areas, work places and public vehicles from January next year. The earlier order to ban smoking in outdoor public places and some indoor workshops was not implemented properly and most of the violators not fined because of shortage of supervisory force and difficulty in furnishing proof.

Besides, it's somehow ironic to see the Health Ministry's efforts to impose smoking ban co-exist with the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration's decision to foster 12- to 40-billion-yuan worth of brands in five years.

The smoking ban campaign should start with the tobacco industry and the fiscal policy should be reformed to free local governments of their dependence on tobacco sales for funds.

(China Daily 05/13/2010 page9)