A billboard sign proclaims harmony but directly behind it ancient homes are being torn down to make way for new development. The residents are evicted without compensation

Are you sure they are evicted without compensation? I haven't heard of any evictions of legal residents without compensation for the building of new projects in Beijing. Even if you are correct and there was no compensation, are you sure that they were supposed to live there in the first place? People live in places that are not supposed to be inhabited because it is cheaper, but they were warned that they are not supposed to live in those places and eventually, they would be kicked out. Just because no one bothered you while you broke the law and built your house in an illegal zone, doesn't mean you should be allowed to stay there. Still, good originality and idea for the photo. I just think it's misleading.

I was informed that residents had lived in these hutong areas for generations but because they could not show official ownership documentation they were evicted. It is not possible to prove ownership of a property when no original ownership documentation exists and this is why their rights should have been protected based on continuity of habitation. As they were not seen as the official owners they were not compensated, many had to move in with relatives to avoid being destitute. Similar situations occur in forest land where tribes have lived for generations but cannot show documentation of ownership, the government claims the land and evicts them. It is clear that this policy is an infringement on the basic human rights enshrined in UN conventions.

A billboard sign proclaims harmony but directly behind it ancient homes

are being torn down to make way for new development. The residents

are evicted without compensation.