BEIJING - China's Ministry of Public Security on Friday urged police departments to ensure social stability and food safety during the upcoming new year and the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays.

In a circular released on Friday, the ministry urged police departments nationwide to strengthen security checks at airports, railways stations, bus stations and ports and their neighboring areas, cracking down on ticket scalpers in a bid to maintain good order for the heavy transport season during the festivals.

As mass activities will increase during the festivals, the ministry called for enhanced security control in public locations, including tourist destinations.

The ministry also urged a crackdown on the illegal production and marketing of fireworks, which are popular during the Spring Festival.

The ministry will also severely deal with driving while intoxicated. During a nationwide campaign by traffic police on Thursday, police intervened in 4,089 cases of driving while intoxicated, including 282 cases of drunk driving.