Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Guangzhou are launching a
campaign to ban smoking in some public places and restrict it in others, the
South China Morning Post said.
Huang Benjia, general secretary of the Guangdong Smoking Control and
Prevention Association, said his group had applied to the Guangzhou Justice
Bureau to get the legislative process in motion.
Huang said a law could authorize the city to ban smoking in public places
such as schools, hospitals and cinemas, and require public venues such as
karaoke bars and restaurants to separate non-smoking and smoking areas.
But Huang said there had been no discussions about what punishment offenders
would face.
He also said the group could not present a concrete timetable for the project
because the plan had just been initiated and was still at an ¡°early stage.¡±
Nevertheless, the association hoped for ¡°some material achievement¡± this year.
¡°The plan hasn¡¯t gone to the government yet because now it is only a proposal
from several NGOs,¡± Huang said.
The plan is being pushed mainly by Guangzhou Smoking Control and Prevention
Association, Guangzhou Lawyers¡¯ Association (GLA) and Guangzhou Medical, Health
and Science Association, according to Huang. The groups¡¯ representatives met
Tuesday to discuss the plan.
However, Huang said he was optimistic, as all parties, including the
government¡¯s Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, had applauded it.
¡°We think that there would be little obstruction to this plan,¡± he said.
¡°Even the tobacconists won¡¯t oppose the legislation.¡±
Zhu Shunxian, director of the government¡¯s Guangzhou Patriotic Health
Campaign Committee, said his office had put the plan on its agenda. He said that
if the plan was realized, Guangzhou would be the first city on the mainland to
bring in legislation banning smoking in public areas.
The GLA said Guangzhou had the legal right to enact bans on smoking in some
public places because the legislation would not contradict Central Government
laws and regulations.
A sample of smokers in the city released yesterday showed that most of them
understood the reasons for the push, but said they hoped smoking areas would be
set aside for smokers if it went into effect.