Shanghai to Allow Firecrackers on Spring FestivalSources from the Shanghai Fire Department say that Shanghai citizens will be allowed to let off firecrackers at fixed time and places during the coming Spring Festival Days in Shanghai. But management of firecracker production and marketing will still have to be closely watched against any possible accidents.During the Spring Festival Days it is demanded that firecrackers may not be let off in no-let-off areas at busy commercial centers as Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road, government departments, culture relic units, and other important public places. In areas at the city center of Shanghai, firecrackers may be let off only during hours 8:00pm to 0:30am next morning, January 23-28,2001. It is reported that two persons had died for letting off fake firecrackers in Shanghai last festival. Taking warning from this, the Shanghai Fire Department emphatically told Shanghai residents setting off fake dangerous firecrackers will not be allowed and dealers will be severely punished. Fireworks Still Banned in BeijingA ban against fireworks has along been ordered in Beijing. To ensure people's safety and a quiet city life as before in Beijing, a strict ban will still be ordered by the municipal government to prohibit all possible setting off of fireworks in the city proper during the first New Year and Spring Festival days in the 21st century.Since imposing a ban on firecrackers from December 1, 1993 on, several years have passed quite peacefully in Beijing. But more often than not against these were many violations that had not been wholly ruled out in the past two years. Fires from setting off fireworks during last Spring Festival days had even been up to as many as 34, resulting in a death toll of 2 and over 270 injuries. By PD Online Staff Huang Ying |
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