Chinese urged to report smokers

China has an estimated 350 million smokers

Health officials in the Chinese city of Chongqing are urging people to report their family members to the authorities if they violate a smoking ban.

The initiative is part of a campaign in two districts of the city to tackle the effects of passive smoking.

Those who are accused of smoking will have their names posted on a warning list on community notice boards.

As well as the campaign within families, a workplace smoking ban is also being tried in public buildings.

A hospital boss whose organisation is taking part in the trial said he would cut the bonuses of any team where members were found to have smoked.

Cigarettes are hugely popular in China, which is estimated to have a total of 350 million smokers.

The World Health Organization has estimated that 3,000 people die in China each day from the effects of smoking.