When dealing with cases of forced removal of residential buildings, Chinese courts should prevent the infringement of citizens' legal property rights so as to observe the principle of private property protection.

Xiao Yang, president of the Chinese Supreme People's Court, made the remark in Beijing on Friday at a lecture on Constitution studies.

Currently in some places, the cases of illegally taking over land and pulling down residential buildings for construction of "image projects" are increasing, which seriously violate citizens' private property rights, said Xiao.

Proper and reasonable compensations should be given in exchange for confiscation of privately-owned property, he said. 
 
(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2004)