"A lot of journalists and tobacco-control experts called me, expressing optimism about the smoking ban for government officials in public venues. They were in consensus that it would greatly help China's tobacco-control situation," Yang Gonghuan, former deputy director-general of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told the Global Times.

Yang's effusive praise for the ban is understandable given her duty to combat the spread of disease and boost public health.

But given the abject failure of previous smoking bans - it's not uncommon to see patrons smoking in front of no-smoking signs in restaurants - as well as the immense power of China's tobacco industry, which provides a large chunk of the country's taxable revenue, there are good reasons to be skeptical about the success of the ban.

The circular was released by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council on December 29, 2013, and bans officials from smoking in public areas, including schools, hospitals, sporting venues and public transport facilities.

Notably, in addition to stating that violators would be punished according to Party discipline, it said that officials should be supervised by citizens and the media.

Experts said that this means that anyone who spots officials violating the ban can report it to the corresponding government departments, adding that the circular also for the first time, expresses a political commitment to a reduction in tobacco use.

The ban not only aims to curb smoking among government officials, it is also hoped that in providing an example, it will extend throughout society.