According to experts, houses can only be demolished to serve the "public interest". Residents must be paid full compensation before they move out. Relocations can take place if and when at least 90 percent of residents agree with the compensation proposal.

The existing regulation has no such requirements. Local governments today have the authority to force relocations before compensating the owners.

"We understand local governments' opposition, as it places more stringent conditions on housing demolitions," said Jiang Ming'an, another law professor at Peking University.

"But the rights and interests of the people are the most important and we hope the State Council Legislative Affairs Office can be both prudent and efficient in implementing the new regulation."

Other experts suggested that in addition to revising the existing regulation on the demolition of urban housing, legislation on confiscating rural land should also be initiated.

"Rural land, which belongs to farmers collectively in China, should be protected more strictly," said Ma Huaide, a law professor at China University of Political Science and Law.

"Given that useable urban land is diminishing, and demolitions are happening more and more in rural areas, legislators should start to standardize the procedures of rural land requisition."