Update | China’s government tries to quell furore over order to allow public access to private residential communities

China’s housing ministry issued a statement at midnight on Tuesday in an attempt to contain a mounting public outcry over a government directive to allow public access to private residential compounds.

A ministry spokesperson was quoted in the statement as saying that the opening up of gated residential areas would be a gradual process that would not be carried out in haste or in “rigid uniformity”, suggesting the policy may not apply to all gated communities. No other details were given.

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“Opening up residential compounds is not simply tearing down walls,” the spokesperson said.

They also criticised “misunderstandings” about the new regulations, without elaborating on what the public was getting wrong.

The directive stipulates that no more gated compounds will be built and that all new residential developments will have to be incorporated into the public street system. Roads and common areas in existing gated compounds will be opened to the public, the statement said.

The policy has sparked strong public opposition, with some worrying about the impact on safety, while others have argued the government directive violates a property law passed in 2007 and damages home owners’ private interests.