Screen clean of smoke

China's film industry grossed a record 10.17 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) at the box office last year.

Mindful of its powerful impact, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television asked the nation's filmmakers this week to make their productions free of smokers and tobacco products. In the administration's eyes, TV and films should not encourage smoking, especially among young people.

A survey by the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control showed that scenes of smoking were found in 31 out of 40 movies and 28 out of 30 TV sitcoms in 2009.