Beijing has launched a three-year campaign to improve residents' manners to prepare them for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Topics to be covered will include manners in daily life and social situations, at sports grounds, at work and at school, as well as etiquette in dealing with foreign cultures.

The scheme, launched earlier this month, is being undertaken by the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Beijing Municipal Government and the Capital Ethic Development Office.

Song Guilun, vice director of the publicity department of the Party committee, said they hoped to raise public courtesy.

"We recognize we still face many problems in civility and etiquette. There are still many areas that we are not satisfied with," said Song.

He recalled spending two weeks in Australia where he had not heard a single car horn and he did not notice latecomers or early leavers at Sydney Opera House performances.

Zhang Huiguang, director of the Capital Ethics Development Office, said: "Some people do not pay attention to civility while others are ignorant."

She citied examples of audiences remaining seated as the anthem of another country was played at sports events, and booing as an opposition team entered the field.

Song said the education drive would also target taxi drivers, teenagers and the migrant population.

(Shenzhen Daily January 21, 2005)