ABSTRACT
The upsurge of upscale residential neighbourhoods in China has been phenomenal in the last decade. Unlike their counterparts in the developed countries, landed detached houses are preserved for the very few privileged in rich cities in China, apparently constrained by the land lease system as well as the tedious approval procedures in planning and building. Hence the overwhelming majority of the nouveaux riches in urban China can only choose housing constructed by real estate developers in multi-family luxurious apartments or villa in planned gated neighborhoods, being packaged as havens for rich families in pursuing exclusive and luxurious life-styles behind the gates. Despite under current household registration (hukou) system, every residential household is enlisted within the “service coverage” of a residents’ committee, which in theory also include the richest households. Yet, in practice, it is extremely difficult for residents’ committees to penetrate the planned neighbourhoods for the rich. The usual tactics employed by residents’ committees in ordinary neighborhoods do not seem to work in high-end neighborhoods. It apparently leaves a gap in a comprehensive system of neighborhood monitoring and social control that is perceived to be vital in the maintenance of social “harmony” (stability). Recent stepping up of social stability measures has driven some local governments to try developing new strategies in extending their control to neighborhoods of the nouveaux riches.
