Passengers on the Shenzhen Metro are not allowed to drink or eat aboard the trains, and violators face a maximum fine of 200 yuan ($25.65), according to a new regulation.

The Shenzhen Metro said it enacted the rule to ensure its passengers' personal safety and a clean and comfortable environment while they travel. They said regulations by Ministry of Construction and Shenzhen Municipal Government authorized the move.

Subways in many Western countries also forbid eating and drinking, and Hong Kong's MTR, just across the border, assesses a maximum fine of HK$2,000 ($256) on rule breakers.

The Shenzhen Metro, which carries about 300,000 passengers a day on its two subway lines (No 1 and 4), has not fined anyone yet for eating or drinking on the train.

"We just advised rule breakers not to do so next time as it was a violation of the passengers' rule," a recent report by the company said.

Is it necessary to have such a rule? Is the rule even legal? Debate has been stirred among local residents, professionals and a media officer from the Shenzhen Metro.

"Service quality and passenger safety are always our working priority. We made the rule to ensure these criteria are met.

"The smell of the passengers' food or drink may annoy other passengers and compromise the hygiene standard of the train. If a drink, milk, for example is spilled onto the floor, it will make the floor so slippery that some passengers will probably fall, causing an unnecessary hazard to our passengers' personal safety," said Zhou Yuan, Shenzhen Metro media officer.

"I think that smoking should be banned on the train, but drinking and eating should be OK.

"Sometimes I am in such a hurry that I have to eat my breakfast while traveling. Why should I be fined if I put all garbage into the rubbish bin after eating or drinking?" said Zhang Huaping, a human resources consultant.

"Some time should be given to local citizens to gradually accept the new rule, but for a long-term view eating and drinking should be completely banned just like smoking. ... Cleanliness is important for every passenger traveling on the train.

"It is actually not just about the trains' cleanliness; but also about the Shenzhen Metro's image and the overall image of one of the world's international cities," said Wang Youming, senior middle school lecturer.

"Some time should be provided to passengers before they have to comply with the new rule, but it should not take too long," said Fanny Liang, expatriate sales manager from Hong Kong.

(China Daily January 17, 2007)