Beijing Party chief Cai Qi said at a meeting on Monday that consideration must be shown to those people who experience difficulties as a result of the campaign to check safety hazards in places where many migrant workers are living. As well as being people-oriented, the work must not be done in haste, he said.

The campaign was launched after a fire, reportedly caused by faulty electrical wiring, claimed the lives of 19 people in Beijing's suburban Daxing district on Nov 18.

There can be no doubt such a campaign is necessary, but what has been done in some areas has sparked a public outcry because the swiftness with which people were asked to leave their homes in buildings deemed a risk seemed harsh.