A weekend scuffle in Shanghai over a drop in apartment prices adds to increasing evidence that China's efforts to tame a surging property market are having an impact -- even as it offers a hint of what could happen if the measures go too far.

　　越來越多的證據顯示中國樓市調控措施正在發生作用，而周末發生在上海、因房價下降引起的一場混戰，又為這個觀點增加了新的證據。同時也可從中窺見調控一旦過頭可能產生的后果。

　　A group of around 400 homeowners in Shanghai demonstrated publicly and damaged a showroom operated by their property developer after the company said it cut prices. Home buyers had wanted to speak with the developer to refund or cancel their contracts but were unsuccessful, according to local media. One report said the price cuts exceeded 25% per square meter.

　　因為開發商說要降價，上海約400名業主公開游行，并損壞了開發商的展廳。據中國國內媒體報道，之前業主們希望跟開發商對話，以求退款或取消合同，但未獲成功。一篇報道說，每平米房價降幅超過了25%。

　　The local media reports said an unspecified number of people were injured. The property developer, a unit of China Overseas Holdings Ltd., didn't respond to requests for comment. Photos of the event showed broken glass in the sales office, homeowners marching with banners and a phalanx of police watching over.

　　中國媒體報道說有人受傷，數目不詳。涉事開發商是中國海外集團有限公司(China Overseas Holdings Ltd.)子公司，它沒有回復本報置評請求。有關這一事件的照片顯示銷售辦公室玻璃破損，業主打著條幅游行，還有警察列隊監視。

　　Chinese media separately reported that another group of Shanghai homeowners gathered on Saturday to speak with Longfor Properties Co., after it dropped asking prices to 14,000 yuan per square meter from 18,000 yuan per square meter at a residential development in the city's Jiading district. Longfor didn't return calls for comment. In an Oct. 20 release, it said it posted stellar sales following an aggressive sales strategy for three of its projects in Shanghai and in the city of Hangzhou.

　　Sina Weibo來自新浪微博的數張圖片顯示了周末發生在上海的針對房價的抗議活動。但抗議者并未獲得來自微博用戶的多少支持。據中國媒體另外一篇報道說，另一群上海業主于周六聚集，希望同開發商龍湖地產(Longfor Properties Co.)對話，原因是龍湖地產將上海嘉定區一處居住項目的開盤價從每平米1.8萬元下調到了1.4萬元。龍湖地產沒有回復本報請求置評的電話。在10月20日的一篇新聞稿中，龍湖地產說，通過實施激進的銷售策略，它在上海和杭州的三個項目取得了不俗的銷售業績。

　　Beijing has been tightening control of the property market this year to tame surging property prices, amid fears that unaffordable housing could lead to greater social unrest. Measures include a massive 1.3 trillion yuan program to build about 10 million public housing units for low-income earners this year, as well as limits of purchases of second homes and other restrictions.

　　因擔心買房難問題造成更大的社會動蕩，今年以來北京一直在收緊對房地產市場的控制，以求馴服迅猛上漲的房價。它所采取的措施包括斥資1.3萬億元，在今年年內為低收入人群建設1000萬套左右的保障房。另外還有限制購買第二套住房等措施。

　　Data in recent weeks have suggested that the curbing efforts are having an impact. China's housing prices were largely unchanged in September from a month earlier and grew at a slower pace than in September 2010, indicating Beijing's efforts to cool the real estate sector are having an impact.

　　近幾個星期的數據顯示，這些調控措施正在產生影響。今年9月份的中國房價基本維持在前一月的水平，漲幅也低于2010年9月，說明北京為冷卻房地產行業采取的措施正在產生影響。

　　Speculation has turned to whether authorities will now relax restrictions. On Monday, China's eastern city of Nanjing said it would let residents borrow more money from the city's housing provident fund to buy 'ordinary homes,' in a move designed to give the struggling property sector a boost. While it didn't elaborate, such homes are often defined as no larger than 140 square meters.

　　人們已經在猜測當局會不會放松管制。東部城市南京周一說，它將提高居民從該市住房公積金借錢購買“普通”住房的上限，以提振處境艱難的房地產市場。雖未具體說明，但這類住房通常被定義為不超過140平方米。

　　In the southern city of Foshan earlier this month, local officials announced they would lift some property-market restrictions, then postponed that move the next day 'to seek further public opinion and to make an assessment on the effects of such measures', without giving further details.

　　南方城市佛山的官員曾在本月早些時候宣布，他們將部分解除房地產市場的限制措施。接著第二天，他們又暫緩執行這條措施，以求“進一步征詢社會各界意見，并綜合評估政策影響”，但并沒有進一步詳細闡述。

　　Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday stressed that all levels of government need to reinforce China's controls of the property market, and that tightening efforts in the property market and the construction of public homes in China are at a pivotal moment.

　　中國國務院總理溫家寶周六強調各級政府要落實房地產市場調控政策，并強調房地產市場調控和保障房建設正處于關鍵時刻。

　　The Shanghai property-owner demonstration found little support on China's Internet, where most still expressed worries that housing prices are too high. In an informal poll posted on the Twitter-like microblogging site Sina Weibo that had attracted more than 34,000 votes by Tuesday evening, 80% said they that thought it was normal for housing prices to fall and that the Shanghai protestors were just playing up the issue.

　　上海業主的游行在中國的互聯網上并未獲得多少支持，多數網民仍然表達了房價過高的擔心。到周二晚間，新浪微博一項非正式調查吸引了34000多人投票，其中80%的人說，他們認為房價可以下降，業主維權是胡鬧。

　　“This is an immoral action,” Weibo user Xiaobai Yeyou Naxieshi wrote in one of the 7 million property-related posts Sina had collected Tuesday on a special topic page. “Buying a house is a form of investment and every investment involves risk. If prices didn't fall, people who can't afford to buy an apartment would really have to wait forever.”

　　新浪在一個專題頁面上搜集了700萬條與房地產相關的微博，其中用戶“小白也有那些事”說：“這件事，是一種不道德的行為。因為購房本身就是投資，任何投資都會有一定的風險。如果不降價，那買不起房子的人，就真都要永遠等待了。”

　　“Dear Government, can you please cancel my purchase of Petrochina shares? A refund based on the IPO price would be fine,” joked Linshi Renyuan. Petrochina, which debuted on the Shanghai stock market at 16.7 yuan per share in 2007, was trading at to 9.85 yuan per share at the end of the day Tuesday.

　　“臨時人員”開玩笑地問：“請問政府，我買的中石油股票能給我退了嗎？就按照發行價退就行。”中石油2007年以每股16.7元的發行價登陸上海股市，本周二收于每股9.85元。

　　That said, a sustained drop in housing prices could spark its own displeasure. It could also spark criticism that Beijing's policies don't address long-term issues.

　　不過房價持續下跌也有可能引起不滿。它還有可能引起批評，說北京的政策并不是為了解決長期問題。

　　Outspoken Chinese real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang, whose properties haven't been involved in the demonstrations, said on his microblogon Monday, “Does the government really want to solve the housing (issue) for the public or is it just using the property market as a tool to balance between economic growth and the public sentiment?”

　　直言不諱的中國房地產商任志強周一發微博說：“政府到底是真想解決民眾的住房，還是僅把房地產市場作為平衡經濟增長與民眾情緒的工具呢？”（任志強的房地產項目沒有卷入上述游行事件。）

　　“Why doesn't the government work on land supply, land prices and tax incentives? Why doesn't it raise wages and lower home purchase taxes, and raise the affordability for the citizens?” Mr. Ren asked.

　　任志強問：“為啥政府從來不從土地供給、土地價格和稅收減負上下點功夫呢？不從提高民眾收入和減免個人購房稅費、提高民眾的購房可支付能力上下點功夫呢？”