The widespread demolition of thousands of homes continues in Beijing, this time in the southern part of the city as the government moves forward with plans to expand the capital's only State-level development zone.

A boy watches as demolition creeps near his family home.

Eighteen villages in the southern district of Daxing are slated for removal to make way for the expansion of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, or BDA, a local official surnamed Cui told China Daily.

Located in the satellite towns of Yizhuang and Yinghai, the national development area generated 57 billion yuan in revenues in 2009. The expansion will make it one of the capital's largest hi-tech and manufacturing centers, according to Beijing's urban planning department. Later this year, a subway line will be completed that will cross the BDA and connect it with southern Beijing.

Around 5,000 households with 12,000 residents will be relocated once the demolition is complete, according to a document on the BDA website. One village will be demolished in Yizhuang while the remaining 17 will come down in Yinghai.

A Baoshan village relocation office employee, who declined to be identified, said bulldozers began tearing down homes on June 18. The demolition will be finished before Aug 6, he said.

The employee said many residents have not yet signed contracts agreeing to be relocated.

"I am not willing to move out," said a resident surnamed Wang who is in his 60s. Wang runs a community store in his village. It is located in a small home that he leases for 400 yuan per month. He said if he has to move, his monthly rent will likely increase to 1,500 yuan.

The local government said it would award 50,000 yuan in compensation for those who cooperate with the demolition process and leave their homes before the removal deadline. Additional compensation will be offered based upon the valuation of homes, Beijing News reported.

New apartments will be available for the relocated villagers before the end of September 2012. Residents will be able to select apartments based on the valuation of their previous homes.

"I will move away," said a woman surnamed Yin. "Because if I do not move away, [local security officers] will frequent my store and destroy my plates outside the store."

There have been a number of clashes in and outside of Beijing between residents who refuse to leave their homes and security guards hired by developers, who sometimes use brutal tactics to force residents to vacate.

Yin said she also worries she may not receive any compensation at all.

"I may be entitled to get some compensation from the local government, but it is under the name of my landlord, so I do not think I will pocket it," the 40-year-old woman said.

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