The World Health Organization (WHO) commended the Beijing municipal government's newly implemented smoking-free law during the celebration of the World No Tobacco Day on Sunday, May 31.
Shin Young-soo, regional director for the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, addressed during the event that the agency applauds the city's move, as it "exhibits its strong and determined leadership in protecting the health of its people by making public places smoke-free."
Aside from giving praise to the country's capital city, Shin also presented the WHO World No Tobacco Day Award to Beijing's municipal government.
The new policy that conforms to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a treaty adopted by the 56th World Health Assembly to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, is expected to carry out a major impact on the health of Beijing residents, the WHO official said.
Often dubbed as China's "strictest" policy on smoking, the new law, which was passed in Nov. 2014 and implemented on June 1, states that smoking will be banned in all indoor public places, workplaces, and on public transportation areas "with no loopholes and no exemptions."
In accordance with the new policy, Beijing Capital International Airport will close the three smoking rooms of its three terminals and is set to open 11 smoking spaces outdoors, the Global Times reported.
The news site added that new outdoor smoking areas will also be opened at over 600 bus stops within Beijing.
Smokers who are proven to violate the law can be reported through law enforcement officers and by uploading a photo of the offender on the government's WeChat account.