Local officials in Ningdu, in China's Jiangxi Province, have been banned from playing Mahjong in order to help clamp down on gambling¹.

江西省宁都县当地政府为了帮助打击赌博，已于日前下令禁止干部打麻将。

The ban was contained in a circular sent to local deputy county-level officials by the Ningdu County Committee of Communist Party of China (CPC).

中共宁都县委向当地副处级以上干部发布了该通知禁令。

According to the circular, the officials may not play Mahjong at any time, either while on or off duty, on any occasion, whether at an entertainment venue² or at home, in any form, whether it be for fun or for gambling.

根据该通知，这些干部严禁在任何时间（不管是工作上班时间还是休息放假时间），任何场合（不论在娱乐休闲场合还是在自己家里），以任何形式（不管是娱乐还是赌博），参与打麻将。

If they are caught, they face losing their job.

一经发现查实，将面临免职处理。

Mahjong is a traditional Chinese tile-based game with a very long history. It is said to be one of the most popular games ever devised in China, and involves skill, strategy, calculation.

麻将是中国历史长远的传统棋牌类游戏。据说，她是中国有史以来最受喜爱的游戏之一，涉及技巧、策略、推算。

The circular has sparked an intense discussion on Chinese social media.

该通知在中国社交媒体上引发了激烈的讨论。

Some netizens have said it is overcorrecting, arguing that normal entertainment should not be included in the ban.

一些网民表示，这是矫枉过正，认为正常娱乐不应该被列入禁令。

Supporters, however, see the measure as "an iron fist" against unhealthy social trends. They hope to have academic cheating, lavish³ funeral customs, and other activities tackled in a similar way.

但是支持者却看到了对不健康社会风貌的"铁拳"措施。他们希望对学术造假、厚葬习俗和其他活动也以类似方式处理。