Shanghai protesters fear chemical plant plan still on, despite government claims

Residents of Shanghai's Jinshan district taking part in street protests against rumoured plans for a chemical plant in the area say there is no cause for relief, despite a promise by the government that no such plant will be built.

The residents have been involved in a week-long protest against the rumoured paraxylene project, which they fear would contaminate the environment. The protest has been covered widely by the international media, but has not featured in mainland outlets due to censorship, protesters say.

"I still have concerns and I don't trust the government," said Wang Xuehua, a stay-at-home mother who lives on Dongquan Street in the district. "If the government really means it, they would not have gagged the media and not deleted protest-related [online] posts."

Used in the manufacture of polyester clothing and plastic bottles, paraxylene is dangerous if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

On Friday, the local government said it would stop "any environmental assessment" for the district's industrial zone - meaning, effectively, there could be no new project.

Despite this, over the weekend, protesters rallied at People's Square in front of the municipal government building and also gathered in downtown areas to show their disapproval of the project.