A total ban on smoking in Government House has been in
force since June 26.  The initiative was
taken by the staff, most of whom do not smoke. They made a request to some MPs,
the Head of the President’s Office, D.Battulga, the Secretary General of the
Parliament Office, Ts.Sharavdorj, and the Director of the Cabinet Secretariat, Minister
Ch.Khurelbaatar, to declare the whole building a smoke-free zone.

The ban extends to even toilets and a fine will be
imposed on anyone who breaks the rule. Some MPs are finding it difficult to adjust
to the new regimen and some of them are suspected of having a secret and quick
puff in the toilet.