Draft regulations on street advertising were released by Beijing’s municipal government on August 15 and public feedback is being solicited for the rest of the month, according to Beijing Youth on August 16.

They stipulate that publicity materials should be clean, tidy and pleasing to the eye, and shouldn't affect the appearance of the city.

Forms of advertising that would be forbidden include: spraying slogans or attaching banners to buildings, fixing ads to trees; attaching banners to overpasses and railway bridges, using advertising aircraft, blocking traffic signs and affecting road safety.

They would also mean that only events approved or organized by the state or city government would be able to use lamp posts or telephone poles to advertise. Even these will be banned in Tian'anmen Square, Zhongnanhai, Chang'an Street, the 2nd Ring Road and expressways.

Ads would only be allowed to be up for a month at maximum, and those connected to festivals would only be able to be on display from a day before to a day after them. Spring Festival promotions would have slightly more leeway: from three days before it to one day after Lantern Festival.

People can give their feedback on the draft regulations at Beijing Legislative Information’s website http://www.bjfzb.gov.cn/newsite/ until August 31.

Their opinions will then be returned to Beijing People’s Congress for it to consider modifications to the draft.

(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing, August 21, 2005)