China banned officials from smoking in public places

According to the China’s official Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Government on 30 December 2013 banned its officials from smoking in public places.

Public places include schools, offices, and hospitals, sports venues, on Public transport or any other places where smoking is banned or to smoke or offer cigarettes hen performing official duties.

Also, officials cannot use public funds to buy cigarettes, and within Communist Party or in government office tobacco products cannot be sold.

The smoking ban must be displayed in meeting rooms, reception offices, passageways, cafeterias and rest rooms. The Officials have been asked to take the lead in implementing government ban on smoking in public places.

China with a population of 1.35 billion has about 300 million smokers. China is the World’s largest cigarette producer and consumer.

Though China’s health authorities already banned people from smoking in indoor public places in 2011, the rule is not seriously enforced or obeyed in the country.

India also banned smoking in public places which covers offices, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, college campuses, bars and discos with effect from 2 October 2008.

In Asia, India, Hong Kong and China have banned smoking in public places.

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