IN response to a proposal put forth by city lawmakers, the Shenzhen Municipal Emergency Management Bureau said it is inappropriate to lift the city’s ban on fireworks and firecrackers.

The bureau cited concerns about the evolving nature of fireworks available in the market, noting that the latest products differ significantly from traditional forms. In the pursuit of heightened auditory and visual effects, the volume and explosive power of these items have increased, with some having the potential to explode like small bombs, posing a severe risk of injury.

Shenzhen, having developed into a megacity with an urbanization rate of 100%, faces unique challenges due to its limited geographical space. The city covers just over 2,000 square kilometers but accommodates nearly 20 million permanent residents, with over 1,000 super high-rise buildings exceeding 100 meters and more than 1,500 urban villages.

While other major cities like Beijing and Shanghai permitted citizens to set off fireworks at designated urban-rural interface areas during the Spring Festival this year, Shenzhen encounters difficulties due to the absence of such open spaces. The city is characterized by either high-density buildings or lush urban parks, posing fire hazards when citizens set off fireworks on their own balconies or rooftops.

The emergency management bureau emphasized that Shenzhen’s development is constrained by geographical limitations, making it unsuitable for the safe discharge of fireworks. Furthermore, there is no space for the development of the fireworks industry in Shenzhen.

Shenzhen implemented a regulation in 1990 to ban the sales and setting off of fireworks and firecrackers in the former special economic zone, and in 2013, the ban was expanded to cover the entire urban area.      (Wang Jingli)