The government of Jiangsu Province, east China, Thursday approved a revised regulation that imposes heavy penalties for spitting and other "uncivilized acts".
According to the regulation on public sanitation and environmental hygiene in urban areas, those who spit, litter, or illegally dump rubbish, dirty water or night soil will face fines ranging from 200 yuan (24 US dollars) to 3,000 yuan (365 US dollars). Stall keepers who fail to keep maintain hygiene on their premises will face similar penalties, according to the regulation.
Local officials said the general public was in favor of tough measures against "uncivilized acts" in a bid to maintain environmental hygiene after the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) threatened to people's lives and social order.
Beijing has also introduced similar measures in the past month.
(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2003)
