Four Chinese officials have been dismissed over a fireworks display in the Himalayas last month by outdoor apparel brand Arc’teryx that drew heated criticism.
Videos of brightly coloured fireworks that apparently resembled a “rising dragon” erupting over a lush Tibetan landscape had sparked environmental concerns and a boycott campaign.
Arc’teryx and the Chinese pyrotechnics artist Cai Guo-Qiang, who designed the show, later apologised.
Authorities in Tibet’s Shigatse city said in a statement on Wednesday that more officials had been investigated and given warnings. They added that Arc’teryx and Cai have to provide compensation and help “restore the environment”.
Authorities said the fireworks, which lasted for nearly a minute and affected around 30 hectares (74 acres) of grassland, have caused limited short-term damage but said further monitoring was needed to assess “ecological risks”.
“The incident created fireworks remnants, plastic debris and other things that were not thoroughly cleaned,” the statement added.
“The instantaneous bright light and loud noise produced by the fireworks caused short-term disturbance to wild animals.”
The four officials who have been sacked include Gyantse county’s Communist Party secretary, public security chief and two senior members of county and city-level environmental agencies.
The artist who orchestrated the display, Cai, is best-known for his role behind fireworks for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has said he would work with authorities in Tibet to help with the area’s recovery.
Social media users, who said the stunt ran counter to Arc’teryx’s conservation-focused image, had called for a boycott of the brand.
Arc’teryx was founded in 1989 and has more than 150 shops worldwide. It is now owned by a Hong Kong-listed fitness equipment company Anta Sports.
The firm claimed the display had been aimed to promote local mountain culture, but said in its apology that it was “out of line with Arc’teryx’s values”. It also said it had used biodegradable materials and would work with an external agency to assess the project’s impact.
