Activists: Revision of anti-smoking law a 'setback'

Anti-smoking activists are denouncing Beijing's latest draft of its long-awaited smoking control regulation because of loopholes they say allow smoking indoors in public places.

The draft, which will be submitted for a second review this month, bans smoking in shared indoor workspaces but allows smoking in designated hotel guest rooms or suites that have ventilation systems.

"Once passed, the draft can be a setback to the capital's long-term plans for smoke-free public indoor areas and might create a negative impact on other regions in China that have introduced or are planning to initiate anti-smoking laws and regulations," said Wu Yiqun, deputy director of the Think Tank Research Center for Health Development, a nongovernmental organization in Beijing.