Official: Don't spit at the Olympics
No spitting and get in line. That's the message Beijing municipal government is trying to get across 18 months before the Olympics open in China's capital.
"Everyone will be fined for spitting," read the headline in Thursday's Beijing Daily Messenger.
In a city of 15 million, jumping ahead in line is common. So is spitting and littering, which officials hope to restrain in an effort to improve the city's image.
Officials have announced a range of measures including "punishment and reward" programs to improve conduct.
One campaign for "civilized behavior" kicks off Sunday in the Wangfujing shopping area, located just east of Tiananmen Square. This will be the first "Queuing Day," which will take place on the 11th of each month.
The 11th was picked because the two numbers, 1-1, resemble two people lining up.
Spitting could start to become costly.
People spitting could be fined up to 50 yuan, or $6.50. In Beijing, 50 yuan is the daily income of a Chinese college graduate. It can also buy 16 subway tickets on the Beijing system.
"Fifty yuan is a fairly hefty warning for spitters," said Zhang Huiguang, director of the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau. "The amount of money is not the most important, the most important is to warn people."
禁止随地吐痰。自觉排队。为了迎接一年半后的2008年北京奥运会，北京市政府日前发起了一项“整治运动”。
本周四《北京娱乐信报》的头条是：“随地吐痰者将被罚款。”
在北京这样一个拥有1500万人口的大城市，插队、随地吐痰和乱扔垃圾都已是司空见惯的现象。北京市有关官员日前表示，（市政府）将大力整治这些问题，以改善北京的城市形象。
针对这些不当行为，北京市政府日前宣布了“奖惩计划”等一系列的管理措施。
本周日，一场名为“讲文明、树新风”的首个“排队推动日”宣传活动将在位于天安门广场东面的王府井大街启动。北京市政府还将以后每月11日定为“排队推动日”。
选定每月11日作为“排队推动日”是因为“11”这个数字看起来象是两个人在排队。
从今以后，随地吐痰可得要付出“代价”了。
随地吐痰者最高将被处以50元（合6.5美元）的罚款。在北京，50元相当于一个大学毕业生一天的收入。而且，50块钱还能买16张地铁票。
北京市民政局局长张慧光说：“50元的罚款对于随地吐痰者来说是个相当严重的警告。但最重要的不在于罚款的多少，而是在于对人们起到警告作用。” |
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