More than 50 people were fined over the past week for spitting in the streets of Beijing and refusing to correct the bad habit, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

Beijing has outlawed spitting, queue-jumping, littering and other conduct likely to tarnish the city's image when it hosts next year's Olympics.

According to Xinhua, 56 people were fined for spitting during the week-long May Day holiday by five inspection teams patrolling the city.

The city government said earlier this year that spitters and litterers would face fines of up to 50 yuan (6.5 dollars).