BEIJING: Residents in state-subsidised housing in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou could be evicted if caught spitting or dropping cigarette butts too often, under a draft proposal unveiled this week.

The proposed penalty system has been designed to “build a civilised, hygienic, safe and harmonious community environment”, the Guangzhou Land Resources and Management Bureau said in a statement posted on its website. Residents would be penalised three points for offences such as spitting, building greenhouses to grow flowers and vegetables, parking illegally and drying their laundry on fences. More than 20 points within two-years will lead to eviciton.