BEIJING: Smoking would be banned in most public places in the Chinese capital from May one, in a step towards a "smoke-free" Olympics and tobacco control in the country with 350 million smokers, one-fourth its population.
Beijing would be the first city in the country to ban smoking in all restaurants, offices and schools, while more than 150 Chinese cities have already placed limited restrictions, the state media reported.
Restaurants, bars, Internet cafes, hotels, offices, holiday resorts and all indoor areas of medical facilities would be included under the new rules, the China Daily said.
Hotels must also have rooms for non-smokers, but the ratio is still being discussed, Cui Xiaobo, a tobacco control expert who helped draft the new rule, said.
Institutions which fail to comply with the new rules would have to pay fines up to $713 but the amount for individuals has still not been decided, the newspaper said.
Under restrictions imposed by the municipal government in 1996, lighting up in large public venues such as schools, sports arenas and movie theatres is prohibited.
Details of the new rules as to how the caterers and bar owners should enforce the ban would be released soon, Xiaobo said.
