Capital considers regulations to improve citizens' behavior

Ji Xiang was anxious recently when he saw customers in his coffee shop not wearing masks when chatting or drinking.

The 35-year-old Beijing resident and avid news follower runs a chain coffee shop in Chaoyang district. He has been operating the coffee shop with his partner Han Qing with reduced business hours since Feb 18 due to the epidemic.

"I was worried when a few customers took off their masks at the cafe, but it's also understandable and feasible since every customer sat alone and far from each other," said Ji.

The epidemic has made citizens in the capital more savvy about public health with a coming regulation as a positive legacy.

On Thursday, a senior capital official said in a daily media briefing that to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus a draft law to civilize citizens' behaviors in Beijing will add new items including that people should wear a mask when they have a cold.

"For those uncivilized behaviors such as throwing out masks and alcohol pads, it should be severely condemned as these actions ran in the opposite direction with combating the virus," said Teng Shengping, director of the Capital Civilization Office. "We included wearing masks when you get a cold or some respiratory illness and covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, to further guide citizens to improve their behavior in daily life."

Articles strengthening prohibitions concerning trade and consumption of wild animals and their products will also be included in the law, added Teng.

She said residents in the capital had noticed the legislation, and more than 1.4 million had responded to questionnaires about what people can do to improve the living environment of the city.

The draft law, called Beijing Civilization Promotion Regulations, was submitted to the Standing Committee of the Beijing People's Congress in November for first review.

The first draft of the regulations stipulated that people spitting in public could be fined 50 yuan ($7.20), and up to 500 yuan for a severe violation.

Cong Luoluo, director of the Social Development Affairs Committee at Beijing People's Congress, said the law was drafted after feedback from public surveys.

"We attempted to define the scope of uncivilized behaviors between law and morality through legislation," said Cong.

But Han, the coffee maker, believed that mandatory rules might not be a good way to adjust citizens' behaviors as some people believed it is too harsh.

"Discouraging people from not wearing masks or spitting through promotion of civilized behaviors might be a better way since it could make residents know the importance of protecting the areas they live in," said the 25-year-old.