Update | Beijing launches new bid to ‘civilise’ residents ahead of Apec summit

Beijing on Tuesday launched a new effort to “civilise” its residents by clamping down on queue-jumping and smoking ahead of a summit for Asian leaders later this year.

The campaign, labelled “Embracing Apec Wonderful Pekingese-Citizen Civilised Behaviour Promotion,” also promises to crack down on jaywalking, drink driving and drivers refusing to stop at zebra crossings.

The Beijing municipal government said in a press release that it aims to encourage “civilised orderly and courteous transport, to improve people’s overall quality to display (their) wonderfulness.”

It follows a similar campaign ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which saw authorities target spitting, littering and disorderly lines for public transport.

Beijing government Civilisation Office spokesman Han Longbin said that the Olympic campaign had achieved results, but “people are still running red lights”.

“We still need to promote better queueing, and we will depend on promoting civilisation and also legal measures,” he added, without giving details.

Residents will be encouraged to tackle the capital’s chronic smog by taking part in a “clean atmosphere blue day action,” which involves taking public transport and buying “green” products.