Chinese 370

Jonathan Watts reports:

Authorities in the Chinese capital unveiled plans yesterday for a "morality-evaluation index" that will rank communities according to the refinement and ethical virtue of their residents and local environment.

The ten criteria for rating neighbourhoods that Watts singles out:

• Patriotic spirit



• Shared housework



• Potted plants per family



• Books per family



• Rubbish separation



• Licence violations by karaoke bars and internet cafes



• Politeness



• Spitting



• Traffic accidents involving residents



• Noise complaints

He also mentions these in the body of the article:

• regularly reading a newspaper



• alcohol abuse



• pollution



• speaking a foreign language (ahem!)

Of course it's a little odd to us. (Although some US homeowners' associations do have intrusive rules, the residents generally agree to them when they move in.) I'm guessing the Beijing one about "politeness" doesn't mean politeness to one's family & close friends so much as to outsiders.