After years of being shunned, street vendors in Shanghai have finally won some support, with the city agreeing to lift its ban on them.

Throughout the country, these roaming hawkers have long been prevented from operating in urban areas for fear they will tarnish cities' image. Indeed, they are often regarded as not even having a legitimate profession.

But now, in Shanghai at least, they are allowed to sell their wares on the city streets at designated times, and can even work in residential areas as long as they get permission from the residents.

According to figures from a Xinhua News Agency report, there are more than 50,000 street stalls without pitch licenses in Shanghai supporting tens of thousands of families.

However, the move to allow street vendors to operate has had a mixed reception among both experts and the public.

In a recent online poll by China Daily, 55.29 percent of the 841 people questioned said they supported the move, while 33.06 percent were against it. The remaining 11.65 percent did not express an opinion.

"I applaud this policy. There are many vendors living a miserable life in Shanghai and they need help and care. We should not restrain them just for the reason that they may make the street chaotic. The better way is to show them how to live their lives legally and properly. "

Qian Hailing

A resident in Shanghai's Yangpu district

"I see the move as a sign of the great progress Shanghai is making in its administration. The conflict between street vendors and officials reflects the dilemma cities face, but they must shoulder the burden of being both an international metropolis and a destination for rural immigrants. Municipal governments always strike a balance between the two functions."

Li Guoqing

A researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

"Don't hurry to praise or criticize Shanghai's move to give the green light to street vendors. We should take time to see the results before making an evaluation. I think the city might still face difficulties in properly handling this issue."

Xia Xueluan

A sociologist at Peking University

"It's really a bad decision. Why does the government change its policies so easily and irresponsibly? When the city is flooded with street vendors in a few months, the government may then decide to ban them again."

"badbad"

On the forum at www.chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily April 2, 2007)