Regulations should stay

The World Expo 2010 is widely regarded as a cultural and technological Olympics. In Shanghai, it is also prompting a campaign for a massive cleanup.

Since a year ago, the city has started to re-landscape its green pockets, dismantle thousands of outdoor billboards and bulldoze illegal buildings to greet the Expo.

That is clearly not enough for a city that is keen to present its best face for the world. Just a few days ago, the municipal government announced nine local regulations aimed at making Shanghai look even nicer in front of some 70 million visitors expected during the six-month extravaganza, which will open in May next year.