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Beijing launched a campaign recently to warn students across the city against the dangers of setting off fireworks 10 years after a ban on fireworks in the city.

A task force of experts from local public security departments and hospitals started the campaign in Beihai Middle School and will visit other schools over the next few days.

They organized various activities, including handing out paper with fireworks information for the students to write down their assignments for the coming winter holidays, displaying pictures and articles on the dangers of fireworks, and holding a cartoon competition and lectures on the same theme.

"More than 70 percent of the patients arriving in my hospital due to fireworks are children," said Song Weixian, an eye doctor at Beijing Tongren Hospital. "Some had their hands fractured, faces burnt, and eyes hurt so badly the eyeballs had to be picked off."

"I hope the tragedies will not happen any more," Song said.

The youth were stirred by the remarks, pictures and articles onthe injured and the pain and tears of their relatives.

"I really hope people can enjoy safe and happy festivals. I myself will keep away from fireworks and try to ensure my parents do the same," said Jiao Ye, a 13-year-old student of Grade Two in Beihai Middle School.

The local police handled 46 cases of illegal transportation and trading of fireworks in 2002, involving six million heads of fireworks. This contraband contained overloaded dynamite and some banned chemicals like potassium chlorate.

Chinese used to set off firecrackers on festivals as a tradition, but this has caused remarkable injuries and pollution in recent years.