Forum on one-year anniversary of circular on the leading cadres taking the lead to ban smoking

                      
                                                                       Experts participating in the meeting

 
On the afternoon of January 5 2015, Chinese Association on Tobacco Control (CATC), jointly with Chinese Center of Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), held a meeting: Forum on one-year anniversary of circular on the leading cadres should take the lead to comply with regulations banning smoking in public places (hereafter called circular)”. A total of about 60 experts participated in the meeting, including tobacco-control experts, economics, legalist, youth workers, and other representatives of local government.

 
CATC issued implementation of circular in 22 provinces, 5 municipalities, 4 municipalities directly under the central government, and 5 planning solo cities. The results showed: 11 districts (30.6%) issued the circular in the name of the provincial party committee and/or provincial government (Yunnan, Hubei, Neimenggu, Guizhou, Jilin, Anhui, Shandong, Jiangxi, Xizang, Xiamen, Shanxi); 11 districts (30.6%) issued the circular in the name of other government systems (Gansu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Liaoning, Jiangsu, Hebei, Beijing, Dalian, Fujian); 10 districts (27.8%) did not issued the circular but had other measures: Guangdong, Ningxia, Henan, Shenzhen, Shanxi, Qingdao, Zhejiang, Ningbo, Tianjin, Hainan); 4 provinces (11.1%) did not take any action (Heilongjiang, Hunan, Guangxi, Qinghai).

 

                          
                                                   Xu Guihua, the standing vice president and sacretary general of CATC


Xu Guihua, the standing Vice-President and secretary general of CATC, said the investigation results showed the circular brought the government’s attention, improved the awareness of leading cadres no smoking in public places, promoted all levels of government to create smoking-free institution, stopped public funds to buy and offer cigarettes, and improved image of cleanliness in government. However, the 4 provinces which did not take any implementation should seriously retrospect gap between self-perception and circular spirit.