China to fine people for spitting, blowing noses on sidewalks... ewww..

[Grimmlok]

BEIJING, China (AP) -- Beijing is launching a campaign to stamp out widespread public spitting in an effort to clean up its image for the 2008 Olympics.

The government has concluded that spitting is the city's "most serious bad habit," Zhang Huiguang, director of Beijing's Capital Ethics Development Office, said Wednesday.

"This year we will intensify our law enforcement efforts in this field," Zhang told a news conference. "We will require law enforcement officials to step up the frequency of fines."

The fine for public spitting is $5 (50 yuan).

Tourists visiting Beijing often are startled at how many people spit or blow their noses onto sidewalks.

The crackdown is part of efforts to raise "ethical and cultural" standards in advance of the 2008 Summer Games, a major prestige project for the communist government.

Zhang said officials will launch an advertising campaign on radio, television, the Internet and mobile phones to "teach people the right way to spit."

"For example, you have to spit into a tissue or a bag, then place it in a dustbin to complete the process," she said.

Those without a bag handy needn't worry. Zhang said her office has organized a small army of volunteers who are already hitting Beijing's streets, handing out small "spitting bags" and wearing bright orange uniforms with the Chinese character "tan" -- "mucus" -- printed in yellow on the back.

She said enforcement will also be ramped up against littering -- the second-worst habit her office faces -- and pets fouling the streets, the No. 3 scourge.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press.

Ive seen chinese guys do that in toronto, it's fucking disgusting. They just plug one nostril and blow out the other, right on the street.. makes me want to throw up every time.

Get some fucking manners!

[ralphycnan]

Grimmlok I bet you love this one. I'm sorry to say this but the Chinese sound so gross.

[Glasgow53]

One of my friends here in Conn. works in one of the big Indian casinos, and there are busses that bring in large number of Asians from New York and I don't know where else. He has seen Asian men and women spitting and blowing their noses all over the casino, even in the eating areas, they just lean over an open garbage can and let it fly. He said it is quite disgusting. I guess it is ok to do that in China, but maybe not anymore, according to this article!

[Lobelia]

How were they not all wiped out by TB?

[Grimmlok]

Squat toilets are actually more hygienic.. your ass doesn't come in contact with a toilet seat, disease isn't spread.

Of course, then there's the whole deal with wiping your ass with your hand..

[AliceInWonderland]

good they need to stop their nasty shit!
these peoples' manners are horrible!

[Grimmlok]

ewwwwwwwwwww you just ruined by idealistic squat toilet fantasy!

[AliceInWonderland]

yeah i read in Time magazine a few months back how the Chinese go as far as deficating/ pissing in public elevators! There are "Western ediquette" schools popping up all over the biggest cities in China since they're beginning to do more foreign business and desperately need to learn what appropriate in other parts of the world.

[Grimmlok]

Oh gross.. wtf is wrong with people..

[Lobelia]

Regardless of your culture, how could pooping in an elevator EVER be ok? Somebody's got to clean it up, right?

I need to read more about this whole Chinese body fluid etc. thing & what their thinking/rationale is.