SHENZHEN, China: Residents have revolted against development plans in another town in Guangdong province, redoubling the challenge to the Communist Party in China's most affluent and open-minded region.

The latest uprising involved up to 30,000 people protesting against plans for a coal-fired power plant in the seaside town of Haimen. Residents stormed local government offices and blocked a busy highway that runs from the manufacturing hub of Shenzhen to the city of Shantou.

Uprising ... residents block a highway in protest over the coal-fired plant in Haimen. Credit:STR

Although organisers denied there was any copycat effect from protests in Wukan, the village 112 kilometres away where residents booted out local government two weeks ago, the similarities were striking enough to be unnerving for a Chinese government that values stability above all else.

Protesters say riot police reacted harshly to the Haimen uprising, beating protesters and firing tear-gas into the crowd. There were unconfirmed reports a 15-year-old boy was killed and dozens of people badly beaten. ''The guy was lying on the ground and not moving after scuffling with the police,'' Lin Zutao, a 25-year-old protester, said.