A governmental decree which prohibits landlords from dividing apartment rooms into smaller booths for rent will take effect Tuesday.

The decree, entitled the Regulations on Leasing of Commercial Housing, stipulates that the average living area of rented housing per person shall not be less than the minimum living area per person set by local governments.

Besides, the decree forbids the leasing of kitchens, toilets, basements and balconies to be used as sleeping rooms.

The decree is one of several governmental regulations which will take effect on Tuesday.

The revised invoice regulations and new regulations on reporting of securities and futures news, price monopoly, and sealing up of property papers by government audit departments will also come into effect.

The new regulations on reporting of securities and futures news, jointly issued by the General Administration of Press and Publication and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, stipulate that reporters should be prudent in reporting news that might affect investors' prospects and market stability.

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2011)