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The burning of fireworks has unwittingly become a contentious issue over the past years and some local governments have even banned the tradition.
A recent fire blaze at an unoccupied luxury hotel in Beijing has once again brought the issue to the forefront of public discussion.
Should fireworks be banned for the sake of safety?
The latest edition of the China Youth Daily has published a commentary, arguing that the banning of fireworks is no more than a simple and crude administrative interference.
The article says, as a time-honoured tradition for Chinese people, burning fireworks can add festive atmosphere and is an essential part of Spring Festival celebration. The root cause for fire disasters is not simply the burning of fireworks, but the illegal and misguided conducts of human beings.
In the article, the author holds that the government's decision should be based on full respect for the public, including their social customs and emotional involvement. Fireworks were once banned in Chinese cities, but these bans were later all lifted, which demonstrates the great strength of traditional customs.
The article further points out that the burning of fireworks should be a public right, which can not be deprived at will but only be decided through legal procures such as holding a hearing or referendum.
The article concludes that the relevant government sectors should shoulder heavier responsibilities preventing fire disasters, including carrying out effective preventative measures, setting up emergency mechanism and improving management, but not simply banning fireworks.
