Caixin reports two major state-run news outlets have expressed veiled disapproval of a recent Beijing government crackdown on unlicensed buildings, which has forced thousands to leave their homes within two or three days of receiving notice. The capital’s swift campaign comes after a fatal fire on Nov. 18 killed 19 at a residential-industrial compound in the south Beijing suburb of Daxing. Most tenants affected by the campaign are low-income migrant workers. In a commentary it published on WeChat Sunday, CCTV said that while such a campaign should be “implemented with force,” officials should also demonstrate “a degree of warmth or compassion” towards the affected communities.
“It’s true that safety risks could be lowered dramatically by pushing tenants to move out of their fire-prone homes swiftly,” it said. “But how can migrants quickly find another shelter that’s safe and where would they go to keep from the freezing cold in winter?” China Daily also voiced concerns about the harshness of the measure, saying “rural migrants deserve respect during the safety campaign.”