A steel fence is being built around Lotus Hill Park, but visitors will still be admitted free of charge. Workers said the fence would be finished in about a month, the Daily Sunshine reported.

Park management chief, Liu Jun, said the 3,500-meter fence would not block the view. Its height ranges from 1.5 to 2 meters.

Police had asked the park management to install the fence to prevent pickpockets from fleeing to hide in the shrubbery after stealing at nearby bus stops, Liu said. The fence would also help keep out stray dogs which had injured visitors to the park, stop people from dumping rubbish in the park, keep out vendors and control the number of visitors when necessary, he said.

The project would cost 1.31 million yuan (US$158,000).

When there were too many people in the park, admission would be temporarily limited. At holiday peak times, part of the fence could be removed for temporary exits, Liu said.

A woman visitor to the park surnamed Cai said the fence would make people feel safer.

However, some questioned the reasons for building the fence, doubting whether it was worthwhile, the newspaper said.

"I can't see any necessity," said a man surnamed Gao. "Will thieves give up stealing when the fence is built?" And after all, there are not many wandering dogs."

Public opinion should have been sought before starting the work, he said. The idea was echoed by Yi Songguo, dean of the Sociology Department, College of Law, Shenzhen University.

A man surnamed Yu said it was a good idea to set up the fence, but was worried whether it would affect the view.

Liu defended the project, citing other parks with fences in Shenzhen and Singapore.

 
Editor: Catherine