Anti-tobacco advocates welcomed a new draft regulation of the national smoking control for public places, but said it could still be strengthened.

The draft was published on Monday on the website of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, pending public consultation.

The draft, made by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, would ban smoking in public places. It would also ban all forms of tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion of tobacco products, as well as certain smoking scenes in films and TV shows.