Beijing mulls banning fireworks in city proper

BEIJING -- The Beijing municipal legislature is discussing amending its fireworks management regulations to ban fireworks all year long in light of the city's heavy air pollution and casualties caused by fireworks during festivals.

A draft amendment on Beijing municipal fireworks safety and management regulations on Thursday was rendered to the standing committee of the Beijing municipal people's congress for deliberation.

According to the draft, setting off fireworks will be banned within the Fifth Ring Road of Beijing.

This means residents in the city proper will not be allowed to use fireworks on the Lunar New Year, China's most important festival of family reunion. Chinese people often celebrate the holiday by setting off fireworks.

According to an official with the legal affairs office of the Beijing municipal government, dozens of people were injured or killed in firework-triggered accidents during the Chinese Lunar New Year between 2015 and 2017.

The number of heavy air pollution days during the seven-day festival reached two to four days each year during the past five years, said the official.

The office solicited public opinion about the draft amendment, with 83.1 percent of participants supporting the ban.

Lawmakers also advised reducing the number of sales booths and cutting off channels for illegal sales of fireworks.

Currently, use of fireworks within Beijing's Fifth Ring Road is allowed only on Chinese Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival.