Now believed to be essential, now did not say how
“Fines for spitting – originally introduced to try to improve the city’s image in advance of the 2008 Olympics, but now believed to be essential – were raised by 1,000 per cent, to 50 yuan (£3.80).
...
And in an unexplained move, the registration of marriages between foreigners and Chinese were suspended. The city government’s Civil Affairs Department did not say how the measure was expected to help control Sars.”
James Palmer, Independent, Beijing.