Former residents protest at CCTV Tower

Around 50 former residents of a building in Hujialou protested at the south gate of the China Central Television (CCTV) Tower in Chaoyang district Wednesday, in a bid to demand higher compensation after they moved from their homes to make way for the project.

However, a legal expert told the Global Times that the contract the residents originally signed with CCTV is legitimate, and therefore their recent demands are unlikely to be met.

Ling Jing, the organizer of the protest, told the Global Times that the group arrived at 9 am armed with banners, calling for more compensation from CCTV than they initially agreed to.

"Not long after we arrived, local police arrived and tried to drive us away by grabbing the banners from us," said Ling.

Yet the protestors were allowed to stay there until 11 am, before the demonstration broke up peacefully.

The residents' grievances date back to 2007 when they were asked to sign a contract with the Demolition Group from the Construction Office of the CCTV Tower.

The former residents said that the majority were given compensation of 19,500 yuan ($3,065) per square meter and were able to buy replacement houses in the designated area of Changying, Chaoyang district, at a discount price of 5,900 yuan per square meter.

"The contract notes that this condition was only available for those who agreed to sign the compensation contract before noon on December 31, 2007," said Han Runxia, another former resident who was at the demonstration.

But it seems some of those who signed the original deal are experiencing buyer's remorse.

"There are still around 60 residents in the building, and about three of them who already moved earlier this year have received a better compensation deal," Ling alleged.

"They got two houses and hundreds of thousands of yuan in compensation, which is unfair to the rest of us," he said.

Zhang Hongsheng, who works at the demolition office of the Hujialou area refused to comment.

"Demolition is a very sensitive topic, I can't talk about it without going through the procedures from the top," he said.

Wang Chunfa, director of the Stability Maintenance Office of Chaoyang District, said that since housing prices are constantly changing, so does the situation when it comes to compensation.

"In terms of the appeal of these former residents, the demolition office is still working on a response," he said.

Lawyer Wang Youliang, from Beijing Liangcai Law Office said the residents' demands are not legitimate.

"Some residents asked me to help with this case, but I declined because the contract they agreed to sign is not wrong," he said.

"The contract was in accordance to the market standard on house prices, which fluctuates. Besides, they agreed to sign the contract after all," said Wang.