Posted on 02/08/2002 6:52:41 AM PST by Arkle
Rail authorities in China are to clamp down on passengers with smelly feet.
Under new guidelines offenders on long train journeys will be asked to clean their feet and be given new slippers.
If they refuse they will be told to put their shoes back on. It's not known if they will face any further punishment.
The South China Morning Post quotes a rail official telling the Shanghai Morning Post: "Train passengers often create an odour disturbance when they take off their shoes."
The newspaper adds rail attendants "will discretely approach the offending passenger and, in a whisper, ask him to wash his feet".
They will then be given a bucket of water, a cleanser and a clean pair of slippers.
The approach will be trialled on two services on the Shanghai-Beijing line. If it's successful it will be implemented throughout China.
A spokeswoman at Shanghai station said: "Most of the passengers say they are extremely pleased with our latest policy."
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