According to the Beijing Public Security Bureau, the capital's police have so far seized 4 million firecrackers, worth 60,000 yuan (US$7,250), in Beijing from this February up to date.

Most of the firecrackers are illegally produced by private workshops in regions in and around Beijing. They often contain too much powder and banned chemicals, which makes them particularly dangerous.

Police said such products have been the major cause of deaths and injuries in past accidents.

Last year, more than 260 people were injured and 180 fires occurred in Beijing because of firecracker explosions, according to the bureau.

The Beijing municipal government imposed a ban on firecrackers in 1993. Firecrackers are traditionally used during Spring Festival.

Despite the ban, many business people sold firecrackers to meet the demand of those who believed firecrackers were necessary to celebrate the lunar New Year.

Beijing resident Ma Jing said: "I do not think the ban is a good idea because, without firecrackers, the New Year does not feel like a new year."

In the last two or three years, slightly more firecrackers have been sold and used in Beijing, said Han Jinxing of the Beijing Public Security Bureau.

"Before the ban, we carried out a survey among the population, which showed that 80 percent of people were in favor of the ban," he said.

However, the situation is now a little different, he said. Many people began to miss the firecracker celebrations.

People tend to miss and want what they do not have any more, Han said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2002)