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Beijing lifts ban on setting off fireworks Residents of Beijing will be able to once again enjoy their centuries-old custom of greeting the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, by setting off fireworks, as the municipal legislature passed a regulation on lifting the 12-year ban Friday. The new regulation will take effect as of December 1, 2005, putting an end to the prohibition, implemented in 1993. At the 22nd Session of the 12th Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress held Friday, the revised administrative rules governing the setting off of fireworks in thecapital replaced prohibition with partial restrictions. Under the newly-issued regulation, fireworks is allowed to set off under a time limit between the Chinese lunar New Year's Eve and the 15th day of the first lunar month every year in restricted areas within the Fifth-Ring Road of the city. As for setting off fireworks in other celebration activities or on holidays and festivals, the Beijing municipal government will make and publicize specific decisions. According to Chinese custom, display of fireworks is a must on the Chinese lunar New Year, the most important holiday in China, as people believe they may, by setting off of fireworks, drive away demons and ill luck of the previous year. In 1993, fireworks was banned in Beijing and many other parts of China for security and environmental protection reasons. In recent years, Many cities resumed this festivity tradition at the requirements of local residents. The new regulation was made on the basis of public opinions solicited on websites, symposia, opinion polls and legislative hearings. However, the new regulation is not a thorough lifting of the ban. Setting off fireworks will remain prohibited outside the designated periods of time and places allowed by the new regulation. In addition, areas with relic sites, airports, kindergartens, senior's homes and forests will remain prohibited from setting offfireworks within the Fifth-Ring Road. Those units who violate the rules will be fined from 1,000 yuan(123 US dollars) to 30,000 yuan (3,703 US dollars) in accordance with the seriousness of each case, and individuals will be fined from 20 yuan to 500 yuan (61.7 US dollars). Under the regulation, a monopoly will be practiced in the selling of fireworks. Strict limits have been set regarding the quality, specifications, and varieties of the fireworks. The rules of the regulation still prohibit people from casting fireworks at crowds, vehicles and buildings, or setting off fireworks within buildings, on roof, or balconies. To better protect teenagers, kids are urged to be accompanied by adults in the process of setting off fireworks.
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