Protesters freed after fight against fees

Police yesterday released some residents of Swan Bay community, detained on Sunday for blocking Chaoyang Beilu with their cars in a protest against community parking fees.

The protest was ignited by the launch of a parking fee by the Swan Bay property management company at the beginning of the month. Monthly fees of up to 1,000 yuan for underground parking were asked for, as advertised in posters throughout the community.

A woman surnamed Li who participated in Sunday's protest told METRO: "We know parking cars on the street is illegal, but we don't have another choice."