G20 host city bans public spitting

Hangzhou, host city of this year's G20 summit, has passed a law to ban unruly acts such as spitting and littering in public places.

Starting on March 1, using mobile phones while driving and throwing trash out of car windows will be considered unlawful acts and people doing them will be penalized, according to the city's newly-enacted Regulation on the Promotion of Civil Behaviors.

The law also prohibits retaliation against citizens who stand up against such behaviors. Breaking the law will bring fines up to 200 yuan (30 U.S. dollars) and affect the violators' credit record.

The law has elicited waves of support on China's social networks, with many people expressing their loathing against these "uncivilized behaviors" and calling for their cities to issue similar laws.

"In the past, we could do nothing but condemn these acts, but now we have laws on our side," said microblogger "Great Sweet Potato."

Legal and social experts, however, are more reserved in their support. Some warn against over-reliance on laws to raise public morality or predict its demise due to a lack of enforcement.

Several Chinese cities, including Shanghai, issued spitting bans after the SARS outbreak in 2003, but they have mostly failed due to poor enforcement.

Hangzhou, a popular tourist city and capital of Zhejiang Province, is scheduled to hold this year's Group of 20 (G20) summit in September. Endi