Two years of community service awaits anyone caught handing out small advertisement stickers or cards twice in succession in Beijing, reported Beijing News Monday.

The Municipal Public Security Bureau will adopt measures to prevent people from handing out advertisement style cards especially in busy traffic areas. Anyone caught repeatedly distributing small cards, pasting stickers or spraying advertisements onto walls will face punishments from detention to community service work, the newspaper said.

The telecommunication authority plans to suspend the phone numbers published on these advertisements. Other authorities, such as public transport, postal, city management, industrial and commercial bodies will take responsibility for cleaning up the advertisements as well as providing  funds for cleaning crews and the monitoring of these of activities.

Unlicensed taxicabs and illegal vendors are also on the black list and may face similar punishments as those responsible for the stickers, the newspaper reported.

The city will enhance its management and focusing on these types of activities especially in its 400 busiest areas, added the newspaper.

Local authorities will also launch a campaign against begging in the city. Beggars under 18 may be required to accept the help and protection of government while those abetting, hiring or controlling youngsters to engage begging will be heavily punished.

(Shanghai Daily May 9, 2006)