Sweeping ban on indoor smoking to take effect in Hangzhou

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Smoking in all indoor public areas will be banned, according to a revised regulation on controlling smoking at public places in Hangzhou, which was published at the official Website of Hangzhou Municipal Government, yesterday.

The indoor public areas include all indoor working area, indoor public places, such as public toilets, and public transportations, according to the revised regulation.

Hangzhou introduced a limited ban on public smoking in 2010, but the regulation covered only certain places such as schools, medical institutions, meeting rooms and elevators.

The new rule also covers some sensitive outdoor public places, such as those surrounding kindergartens, middle and primary schools, children's palaces, stadiums, gyms, women's and children's hospitals.

And for outdoor smoking areas or points, the operators have to set up warning signs, reminding smokers to be aware of the health hazard of smoking. In addition, the outdoor smoking areas or points must be away from crowds or passages.

Electric cigarettes and tobacco products with the function of heating yet not burning are likely to be banned in the formal version of the regulation, said Peng Zhifang, director of the regulation division of Hangzhou Legislative Affairs Office.

Individual violators will face a fine of up to 200 yuan (US$31.55), according to the revised regulation. The fine cap was originally 50 yuan. And the fine will be raised from 2,000 yuan to 5,000 yuan on owners of places for failing to enforce the ban.

People are encouraged to call 12345 to report offenses and offenders.

The formal regulation is expected to be put into effect by this year end.

A batch of local laws and regulations, including one on foreigners for their service and another on metro administration in Hangzhou, will be put into effect in 2018.

Source: Hangzhou International Center

http://hicenter.cn/news_detail.asp?id=6704

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