Demolition can be carried out in a civil- ized manner and be a win-win game for all parties involved if enough thought is given to the residents' interests. In this respect, the largest-ever renovation project in suburban Beijing's Tongzhou district has set a good example.

By Thursday afternoon, 4,498 households had signed agreements to evacuate their premises for demolition. Residents queued up for three to four days to sign the documents because the earlier they signed the contracts, the earlier they could choose their new homes in their preferred locations from among those provided by the local government.

In striking contrast with the violent demolitions that have led to deaths of and injuries to residents resisting them, the local government has given thought to the interest of residents.