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 China is the world's largest tobacco consumer. Smoking is deeply
entrenched in Chinese social life, particularly for men, and luxury
cigarettes are frequently given as gifts.
Beijing pledged in 2008 to ban smoking in most public venues,
including government offices, but enforcement has remained lax and
no-smoking signs are frequently ignored.
"The phenomenon of smoking in public places remains prevalent,
especially for a small number of leading cadres, who not only
endanger the public health and environment, but also harm the image
of the Communist Party and the government," says the circular issued
by the State Council, China's cabinet.
Party cadres must not buy tobacco using public funds, and those who
break rules on cigarettes should be "criticized and educated about
their evil influence," the circular says. Leaders at all levels
should deal with rule-breakers severely, it added, without detailing
specific punishments.
Communist Party cadres should to "take the lead" in kicking their
smoking habits to set an example for the public and party bosses
should encourage colleagues to quit smoking, it said.
It was also forbidden for government and party organs to provide
tobacco or advertise cigarettes internally, and smoking should be
prohibited in offices, meeting rooms, restrooms and cafeterias.
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An official in the tobacco control office for the Chinese Centre for
Disease Control and Prevention said at a press conference earlier
this month that lawmakers will weigh a nationwide ban on smoking in
public places next year.
Several major cities have implemented smoking bans in public places,
but anti-smoking advocates both inside and outside the country say
those bans have not been well enforced.
In a separate announcement, the State Council said those who smoke
on high-speed trains can be fined up to 2000 yuan ($329.80),
starting in January.
(Reporting by Megha Rajagopalan, additional reporting by Huang Yan;
editing by Michael Perry)
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