Milan's Chinatown to be relocated in bid to restore order

Milan's government plans to relocate its Chinatown to an industrial area on the city's outskirts, in the wake of a riot by residents and an outcry over lawlessness in the district.

The controversial decision was made by Mayor Letizia Moratti and was included in a so-called security pact signed with the vice-minister of internal affairs, Marco Minniti. They said the purpose of the pact was to tackle an 'immigrant emergency' and restore law and order to the city.

The relocation will involve forcing out all businesses in the inner-city area, which is dominated by ethnic Chinese traders.

Siliu Hu, a representative of the Chinese community said: 'We have been to the industrial areas and now we are waiting for the final decision from the shopkeepers.'

A compensation plan which will be offered to the traders has yet to be finalised but shopkeepers are angry about the relocation.

Entrepreneur Luigi Sun said: 'The industrial area where they want to relocate us is too far from Milan. It is difficult to commute to the inner city. The industrial area is too small to house a Chinatown.'

The city's Chinatown has been a centre of conflict in recent months. On April 12 it was the scene of what became known as the 'Chinese revolt', in which hundreds of residents clashed with riot police after a resident received a parking ticket. Ethnic Chinese took to the streets, chanting slogans and waving Chinese flags in a scene which shocked Italians.