Authorities in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, are recruiting volunteer supervisors to watch out for people who smoke in public places such as hospitals, schools and museums, officials said on Saturday.

According to a local regulation that comes into effect on March 1, residents will be fined 50 yuan ($7) if they are caught smoking in public places. Public venues are required to recruit smoke control supervisors. The volunteers will not be paid nor entitled to directly impose the penalty. They are obliged to watch out for people, give warnings and report offenses to the relative department.

(China Daily 02/08/2010 page4)