Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Guangzhou are launching a campaign to ban smoking in some public places and restrict it in others, the South China Morning Post said.

 

Huang Benjia, general secretary of the Guangdong Smoking Control and Prevention Association, said his group had applied to the Guangzhou Justice Bureau to get the legislative process in motion.

 

Huang said a law could authorize the city to ban smoking in public places such as schools, hospitals and cinemas, and require public venues such as karaoke bars and restaurants to separate non-smoking and smoking areas.

 

But Huang said there had been no discussions about what punishment offenders would face.

 

He also said the group could not present a concrete timetable for the project because the plan had just been initiated and was still at an "early stage." Nevertheless, the association hoped for "some material achievement" this year.

 

"The plan hasn't gone to the government yet because now it is only a proposal from several NGOs," Huang said.

 

The plan is being pushed mainly by Guangzhou Smoking Control and Prevention Association, Guangzhou Lawyers' Association (GLA) and Guangzhou Medical, Health and Science Association, according to Huang. The groups' representatives met Tuesday to discuss the plan.

 

However, Huang said he was optimistic, as all parties, including the government's Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, had applauded it.

 

"We think that there would be little obstruction to this plan," he said. "Even the tobacconists won't oppose the legislation."

 

Zhu Shunxian, director of the government's Guangzhou Patriotic Health Campaign Committee, said his office had put the plan on its agenda. He said that if the plan was realized, Guangzhou would be the first city on the mainland to bring in legislation banning smoking in public areas.

 

The GLA said Guangzhou had the legal right to enact bans on smoking in some public places because the legislation would not contradict central government laws and regulations.

 

A sample of smokers in the city released yesterday showed that most of them understood the reasons for the push, but said they hoped smoking areas would be set aside for smokers if it went into effect.

 

(Shenzhen Daily/Agencies March 24, 2006)