Source in the Beijing Municipal government say the area within the fifth ring road will be a fireworks free zone during the 2005 spring festival. 

The public security office and Ministry of Communication will also crack down on the sales of fireworks, ensuring no illegal, fake production and sales.

Next year is the twelfth year Beijing has banned fireworks during China's main festival.

At the beginning of this year, some deputies of the National People's Congress debated whether the ban should be lifted but decided to leave the law unchanged.

(CRIENGLISH.com December 2, 2004)