A major Chinese city, which is this year playing host to the G20 summit, has passed a law to ban spitting on the streets and other public places in response to public outcry.
The local government of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, east China, has decreed that the ‘uncivilised behaviour’ will be punished from March 1 onwards, according to People’s Daily Online.
The law, which also covers regulations on littering and using phones while driving, has been named the Regulation on Promotion of Civil Behaviors and comes with the ability to penalise wrong doers.
Spitting in public is a common sight in China, from cities to rural areas. Residents can be seen spitting in the middle of the streets and in front of the others without concern.
However, now the practise carries a potential penalty fine of up to 200 yuan (£21) and a criminal record in Hangzhou.
Other acts which can be punished by authorities according to the law include throwing cigarette butts out of car windows, dropping trash on the street and leaving used chewing gum in public places.
The popular tourist city ran a survey a few months ago and found that 90 per cent of respondents disapproved of spitting – although just 10 per cent of those asked were willing to stand up to wrongdoers.
The 2016 G20 summit will be held in Hangzhou on September 4th of this year, the 11th meeting of the international committee.
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