China protest forces factory move

By Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing

Land in Xiamen was already being cleared for the controversial plant

Ordinary Chinese people appear to have won a victory by forcing the government to move a planned chemical factory.

The plant was supposed to be built in the picturesque coastal city of Xiamen, but will now be moved inland.

Government officials seem to have changed their minds after thousands of Xiamen residents staged protests against the factory.

The case shows how people are becoming increasingly aware of their rights - and can force a government rethink.

The chemical plant, funded by Taiwan's Xianglu Group, was to be built next to a new residential area in Xiamen, Fujian Province.

Many of these new homes are in expensive compounds with tennis courts, swimming pools and manicured lawns.

In June 2007 local residents staged a series of protests in Xiamen city centre against the proposed plant on environmental grounds.

They feared the factory, which will make the chemical paraxylene, would emit toxic fumes that could cause cancer.

Paraxylene is used to make plastics, polyester and cleaning products, and can damage vital organs after long-term exposure.

Work had already started on the plant at its original location on the Haicang peninsular on the outskirts of Xiamen.

But after the protests, which received nationwide publicity, the local government put the project on hold.

It also ordered an environmental report into the scheme, costing 13.8bn yuan ($2.1bn, £1.4bn).

The findings were published by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, which suggests the company agreed to limit the factory's pollution.

Local residents had campaigned long and hard against the plant

The ministry also revealed that the plant, which has received preliminary approval, will now be moved from Xiamen to the nearby city of Zhangzhou.

One Zhangzhou resident, quoted in the state-run China Daily, seemed unconcerned with the new plan.

He said: "The plant will be far from densely populated areas. I think we are fine with the current arrangement."

But it is unlikely that all Zhangzhou residents are happy with the change in plan.

At least one newspaper article asked why, if the plant will not emit toxic fumes, it cannot be built in Xiamen as originally planned.
BBC NEWS REPORT.