Govt smoking ban applauded

Experts on tobacco control expressed their support for an announcement on Sunday from the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council, urging the Party and government officials to stop smoking in public places.

In 2011, the then ministry of health banned smoking in indoor public places. However, "smoking is still common in public places. Some officials smoke in public places. This not only threatens the public environment and the public's health, but also impairs the image of departments of the Party and the government and the image of the officials, leaving a bad influence," said the announcement made public by Xinhua News Agency on Sunday.

The announcement said the Party and government officials must not smoke in public places, including schools, hospitals, sporting venues and public transport vehicles, and that they should play a leading role in obeying no-smoking signs in other places.