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Shanghai will ban smoking in public areas beginning on March 1, according a draft amendment to the anti-smoking law approved by the city's top legislature yesterday.
Following months of debate and repeated revisions by the Shanghai People's Congress, the Shanghai Public Places Smoking Control Law has been clarified and expanded. The new law imposes fines on establishments that fail to obey its restrictions.
Supporters say the law will better protect its citizens' lives and improve the environment.
Revisions to the law make the ban more specific, and include a list of places affected. Smoking will be prohibited at kindergartens, schools, hospitals, stadiums, public service places, shopping malls, libraries, theaters and museums, among other places.
Entertainment venues, public areas of hotels, airports and train stations must ban smoking indoors and provide a separate smoking area. The law also stipulates that all separate smoking areas or rooms should be ventilated. Public places must also have prominent signs indicating that smoking is prohibited.
Government statistics show that 30.2 percent of residents in Shanghai smoke. The national rate is 35.8 percent.
Lawmakers attribute the large number of smokers to lax regulations. The existing smoking control law was passed in 1994, and mainly enforced in medical departments.
Under the new law, places that fail to ban smoking can be fined between 2,000 and 10,000 yuan. In the event of a serious violation, fines could be anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 yuan. Individuals who smoke in non-smoking areas will also be fined 50 to 200 yuan if they do not put out their cigarette.
"The city has been devoted to a healthy environment, and there is an urgent need for legislation for a definable smoking control law. It is also the collective suggestions of many legislators and health experts," Ding Wei, vice-director of the Law Commission of the Shanghai People's Congress, said yesterday.
Questions:
1.What are the two benefits of this law, according to its supporters?
2. What are three examples of places where smoking will be banned?
3. How much will places that do not ban smoking be fined normally?
Answers:
1. Supporters say the law will better protect its citizens lives and improve the environment.
2. Smoking will be prohibited at all of these places: kindergartens, schools, hospitals, stadiums, public service places, shopping malls, libraries, theaters and museums.
3. They will be fined between 2,000 and 10,000 yuan.
（中國日報(bào)網(wǎng)英語點(diǎn)津 Helen 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Dan Chinoy is a reporter and editor for the China Daily's website. A graduate of Columbia University, he grew up in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Dan has experience in Hillary Clinton's Senate Office in Washington, and Fortune Magazine in Beijing, the U.S. Consulate in Shenyang. Dan speaks Chinese, but not as well as he should.
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