SHANGHAI: A legislator here yesterday called for a ban on smoking in public places, including the venue for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, during the six-month event that kicks off on May 1.

Feng Danlong, a deputy to the congress, proposed the bill at the ongoing annual meeting of the municipal people's congress, saying, smoking should be banned at the exposition park, as well as at other public places like restaurants, hospitals, hotels, schools and gyms during the Expo.

She said no advertisements for cigarettes should be permitted, and the existing ones should be ripped off before the event.