Rumors that residents of Beijing will be forcibly relocated as the nation’s capital merges with Tianjin and parts of Hebei Province to form a single supercity have been so persistent that the government has had to make an official statement.
Xu Lin, the director of the development program at the National Development and Reform Commission, said the rumor is false. Xu emphasized the government would never forcibly relocate residents in the overcrowded city. Instead, Xu said any relocation would be the result of financial incentives that encourage Beijingers to move to other urban areas.
Forced relocation is a common phenomenon in China. People are often evicted from their homes even if they refuse the government’s compensation. People in Beijing have been skittish over rumors more forced relocations could happen as the country plans to build a supercity in northern China with Beijing at the center. Speculation over this new megacity has already resulted in a rise in real estate prices in nearby Tianjin and Hebei.
Related:
- New Megacity to Include Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei With Population of 130 Million
- 60% of netizens support Shenzhen, Huizhou and Dongguan merging
Photos: People’s Daily Online
