The government of Chongqing municipality in southwest China has decided to scrap off fireworks shows preset for the upcoming seven-day May Day holiday for safety reason, the mayor said Tuesday.

Mayor Wang Hongju made this remark while addressing a special meeting on work safety for the second quarter of 2004.

According to decisions made at the meeting, fireworks displays scheduled from April 26 through May 7 were called off as a "precaution against hidden risks of any possible accidents."

The government pledged to compensate adequately sponsors who were authorized to organize fireworks shows. The reimbursement of tickets for shows has been well underway, government officials noted.

"This is the most spectacular fireworks show I have ever seen, "Mayor Wang said, referring to the latest preliminary fireworks show at the night of April 24. The pageant was held at the central Chaotianmen Square, featuring splendid fireworks and water-screen movies, which were attended by around 700,000 viewers.

The huge crowds of spectators, however, turned the situation almost out of control that night, and one person was tramped. And sanitation workers collected dozens of lost shoes afterwards due to overcrowdedness.

The expected fireworks shows are suspended to guarantee public safety, Wang said, taking into account the safety of amassed local residents and tourists from in and outside the municipality who would converge on the downtown area during the holiday.

According to the mayor, the government has explained on the decision to sponsors and local residents, and said that presold tickets for fireworks shows are refundable.

The municipality has just experienced a traumatic tragedy resultant from a chlorine leak that occurred on April 15 night at the Tianyuan Chemical Industry Plant in its Jiangbei district. The leak was followed by fierce blasts on April 16 afternoon, releasing a high concentration of highly irritating, greenish-yellow chlorine gas. Nine people were killed or missing and three others injured during the tragedy.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2004)