LOCAL law enforcement will strengthen inspections at venues where smoking is prevalent following Saturday's implementation of Shenzhen's tougher smoking controls, authorities said at a press conference yesterday.
"Such venues include offices, small and medium-sized restaurants, Internet cafes and stock brokerages," said Lin Hancheng, director of the disease control department of the city's health and family planning commission.
The commission is assuming primary responsibility for implementing the new smoking controls and will receive assistance from six other government departments, said Sun Meihua, deputy head of the commission.
Smoking also will be banned as of Saturday in locations including indoor workplaces, public places and public transportation.
"The transportation department will be tasked with enforcing the law on public transportation and the urban management department will control smoking in places like parks and Metro stations," Sun said. "The market supervision department will be responsible for eateries, shops and markets."
Said to be the strictest smoking control effort on the Chinese mainland, the law will impose fines of 50 yuan (US$8.17) to 500 yuan on violators.
Operators of nonsmoking venues, including restaurants, will be asked to persuade smokers to put out their cigarettes. If smokers refuse, they will be asked to leave. If they still refuse, operators can call related government departments.
"People can report venues that fail to stop smoking by dialing 12345 and operators will be fined 30,000 yuan," Sun said. "If you find a person smoking near you in a restaurant, what you need to do is ask the restaurant staff to stop him or her."
No-smoking signs will be posted at all local restaurants.
Persuasion will be the primary method used by law enforcers in the first week of the law's implementation.
Smoking restrictions for entertainment and leisure venues - including karaoke clubs, massage parlors and tea houses - will be implemented before Dec. 31, 2016.
Those venues will be asked to separate smoking and nonsmoking areas.
Shenzhen's airport will close its six smoking rooms as of Saturday, the Daily Sunshine reported yesterday.
Shenzhen introduced initial smoking control regulations in 1998, but nobody has ever been fined for a violation.
About 1.4 million people die because of smoking in China each year, according to Sun.
An activity will be held to promote the law on the square in front of Children's Palace in Futian District on Saturday. Pamphlets with the law's full text will be distributed to residents.
Source:Shenzhen Daily