Demolitions send a stern message to illegal developers

The capital of Hainan province began the demolition of building at three housing sites Friday as part of the city's latest move to tackle illegal construction.

Housing was illegally built on collectively owned rural land located in the suburbs of Haikou and marketed to people who are not part of the collective land ownerships.

Such purchases are not legally protected, and urban residents are prohibited from buying this type of housing. But as property prices have risen, so, too, has the problem of illegal residences.