With a few months to go until the Olympics, Beijing residents are making progress
with their etiquette, as indicated by a "city index".
A survey released by Renmin University found that in 2007, 2.54
percent of people still spat in public, down by 2.36 percentage
points from 2006.
Over the past three years, the poll surveyed more than 10,000
local residents and 1,000 foreigners who had lived in Beijing for
more than two years. It also gathered 3,000-hour observations from
300,000 people at 320 public venues and 200,000 automobiles.
The survey found that the occurrence of littering in public had
dropped from 5.3 percent in 2006 to 2.86 percent in 2007 and
queue-jumping dropped from 6 percent to 1.5 percent.
The "civic index" of Beijingers, calculated using several
parameters, was 73.38 in 2007, up from 65.21 and 69.06 in 2005 and
2006, respectively. The index reflects compliance with rules
involving public health and public order, attitudes towards
strangers, etiquette at sports events and a willingness to
contribute to the Olympic Games.
However, the "civic index" still fell short of the standard
required for the 2008 Olympics, according to Sha Lianxiang, a
sociology professor at Renmin University. The standard is said to
be 80 points.
Beijing expects to receive 550,000 foreign tourists during the
Olympics and an estimated 2 million domestic tourists will also
visit.
The city has also issued 2.8 million pamphlets about daily
etiquette to local households and offered courses to all civil
servants and 870,000 people working in the service sector, such as
cab drivers, waiters and waitresses, and bus conductors.
"Sentences like 'No means no, it doesn't need an explanation'
and 'We can't help you. Go ask someone else' are strictly
prohibited," said a cab driver.
The 11th of each month is officially considered as "Queuing Day"
as passengers are told to stand in line while waiting for
buses.
Meanwhile, people caught spitting in public face fines up to 50
yuan (6.85 U.S. dollars). Rude manners when watching sports
competitions may incur a detention.
(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2008)