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Beijing implements smoking ban  

Beijing's heavily polluted air became a touch cleaner yesterday as China, which boasts 350 million nicotine addicts, brought its first public smoking ban into force.

Ever nervous of popular unrest, Beijing had already toned down the measure, which had been long touted as one of many improvements to public life to be introduced before this summer's Olympics.

Following protests from managers and owners, restaurants and bars were excluded at the last minute.

The government also timed the introduction for the national May Day holiday, when government offices would be empty. In China, bureaucrats' desks often feature little more than a handful of documents - and a heavily loaded ash-tray.

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