City eyes smoke-free environment for world expo

SHANGHAI: Smokers in this city may need to start hunting for other places to puff on their cigarettes, if the municipal health bureau has its way.

The health authorities are waging a campaign for a smoke-free 2010 World Expo by extending a smoking ban to more places, following recently proposed legislation aimed at banning smoking in Shanghai office areas and restaurants.

The proposal, still in its preliminary stages, comes after Beijing's move to limit public smoking for its summer Olympics.