Cadres' smoking ban good but not enough, Chinese media say
Tougher laws needed to ensure officials light the way for health campaign to cut down on tobacco use, commentators insist
The mainland media have welcomed moves to ban officials from smoking in public places, but say this goes nowhere near far enough.
The government should be pushing to bar smoking in all public areas to reduce the numbers killed by tobacco-related illnesses each year, commentators said.
An official circular was issued last week banning cadres from lighting up in areas such as schools, hospitals, sporting venues and museums and on public transport. It also stops them smoking while on official duties, such as in meetings or at business lunches.
Previously, it was health and education departments that had got tough on officials and staff smoking, and some media said the new directive was a step in the right direction.
The Workers' Daily said tobacco production had increased by half in the past 10 years and the ban might signal a turning point in efforts to curb smoking.
But People's Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party, said much tougher action was needed. More than half of officials smoke and if they stopped lighting up in public areas it would set a good example to the rest of society, but legislation had to be introduced to press the issue.