As Beijing municipal government enforced its smoking ban policy on Monday, a chain of the famous Haidilao Hot Pot restaurant in Chaoyang district became one of the first establishments to receive the city's violation notice for not following the city's guidelines.
According to Liu Ying, a law enforcement officer at the Beijing Health Inspection Bureau who checked out the restaurant on Monday morning, the hot pot restaurant has failed to place "no smoking" posters that contain the list of hotline numbers to report offenders as well as prevent customers from smoking.
The officer obliged the establishment to further educate its employees regarding the newly implemented policy.
Haidilao's owner Wang Bin immediately responded to the notice, pleading that their management will comply with the city's regulations.
"Waiters can report smokers to us through the hotline number, 12320, if smokers don't follow their request to stop smoking," said Li, adding that inspectors will come back to check if the restaurant has followed the instructions and may file charges if it fails to abide with the guidelines.
Wang Benjin, deputy director of the bureau, told China Daily that most of the city's 1,000 health inspectors were sent around Beijing's important places, including restaurants and hospitals, for inspections on Monday, adding that they have issued violation notice to some business owners.
"Those who received notices should comply with the regulation or they will be fined," Wang said, adding that the bureau will administer broad inspections on key places on the following days.
The new smoking policy prohibits Beijing residents to smoke in all indoor public places, workplaces, and on public transportation areas.
A penalty of 200 yuan ($32) will be charged upon offenders if proven guilty, and it will increase by 10 yuan on the next violation.
The owners of businesses, on the other hand, will have to pay 10,000 yuan ($1,612) for neglecting smoking customers within their establishment.