A senior Chinese health official says the government will strengthen the ban on smoking in public places through legislation measures.

China's vice Minister of Health, Wang Longde, made the remarks on Tuesday in Beijing at an event marking World's No Tobacco Day which falls on Thursday.

Wang says three is so far not a single law in China that specifically targets smoking in public places, although the matter has been included in several laws and regulations.

As a result, the State Council has tasked the Health Ministry with revising the country's public health management regulations to lay more emphasis on the smoking ban.

The official notes China is committed to making the 2008 Olympic Games smoke-free, and that the country is working hard to meet this promise.

The smoking population in China has reached 350 million, with even more people being harmed by second-hand smoke.

(CRI May 30, 2007)