The city plans to launch a campaign soon to improve its "software" in the run- up to the 2010 World Expo.

"Software" mainly refers to the improvement of citizens' cultural qualities, rather than "hardware" such as buildings and other infrastructures.

"We will strictly implement the civilization action plan to ensure we reach our target," said Chen Zhenmin, deputy director of the Shanghai Office of the Committee for Promoting Ethical & Cultural Progress.

The main features of the action plan are that citizens shall be self-disciplined, clean, polite, take care of the environment and take care of each other.

Shanghai hopes to turn itself into a city of law, courtesy, honesty and friendliness.

"By putting forward these aims, we will turn Shanghai into a global city by 2010," Chen said.

The office has drawn up a three-stage plan in order to achieve the goal.

The first stage lasts from now until 2005, when the bad habits of local citizens will be eradicated.

"Be a lovable Shanghainese" is to be deeply rooted in local citizens' minds.

The "Seven Don'ts" are common ethical traits such as don't spit, litter, swear or jaywalk.

Behavior

Social experts pointed out that although Shanghai people exhibit many admirable traits, some of their behavior remains unacceptable.

Although good behavior is encouraged from an early age, many local residents remain indifferent and do not care for the environment.

But some local residents claim that only a few indulge in such bad behavior or that the miscreants actually come from other parts of the country.

Even if outsiders are responsible for most of the bad behavior, local people will be blamed for failing to stop this.

The first campaign to improve public behavior will take place in the city's transport system, Chen said.

Travelers will be urged to give up their seats to those in greater need, such as pregnant women, people carrying babies, the elderly or handicapped.

Helping hand

Volunteers will be organized to stand by the doors of metro trains or at bus stations to make sure passengers will queue properly.

Shanghai Traffic & Patrol Police General Brigade this month started rewarding members of the public who report violations of traffic rules and provide valid video or photo evidence.

The second stage of the action plan, lasting from 2006 to 2007, will focus on consolidating the achievements of the first stage and keeping on improving the behavior, legal awareness, physical and mental health, and communication skills of local people.

Improvement

The third stage runs from 2008 to 2010 when the comprehensive quality of citizens, management level, city appearance and environment, and quality of the service sector in Shanghai will make an obvious improvement, laying a solid basis to the success of the World Expo.

"The improvement of spiritual civilization and the cultural level of the people is a long-term task and will have new content in the new era," said Zhou Yupeng, vice-mayor of the city and director of the Shanghai World Expo Co-ordination Bureau.

The city will spare no efforts building public cultural facilities and establishing a friendly environment, Zhou said.

(China Daily August 19, 2004)