Rules introduced to curb smuggling of antiquities
But a lobbyist says it is more important to teach people it is wrong to trade relics
New regulations on the protection of cultural relics will help the mainland fight the illegal trade in antiquities, but increasing public awareness is more important, a campaigner says.
The State Council on Thursday promulgated comprehensive regulations on protecting China's cultural heritage.
They aim to block the illegal export of antiquities and impose more specific rules against damaging ancient tombs, buildings and other cultural property.
He Shuzhong, the director of Beijing-based Cultural Heritage Watch, yesterday said the emphasis in the new rules on co-operation among government departments would help curb the rampant sale of stolen Chinese relics.
'These [relics] are things that cannot simply be replaced once they're lost,' he said. 'I'm very happy that they have made concrete demands on authorities to co-operate.'
'But the situation won't improve immediately. It depends on lots of other things - such as the promotion of awareness among ordinary people, the co-operation of law-enforcement authorities and the monitoring of the media,' Mr He said.
Thousands of relics have been stolen from tombs in recent years, and the break-ins have continued despite large-scale campaigns against antique smuggling.
Xinhua estimated in 2001 that 200,000 ancient tombs had been broken into and their priceless contents inevitably made their way to international antique markets.
The regulations state that cultural relics due for export must be registered and approved by authorities under the State Council. Several antique experts must approve an item's export. Antiquities may not be exhibited overseas for more than one year. The regulations also require archaeologists who wish to carry out excavations to have more specific qualifications.
Mr He said the implementation of regulations would always pose a problem. 'The regulations themselves are good, but the implementation is another matter completely,' he said.
'Damage is being done all the time, because of the monetary gains. The antiquities are being lost at an alarming rate - particularly from illegal excavation of ancient tombs. This is seriously threatening our cultural heritage.'
He suggested Hong Kong's antiques trade was indirectly encouraging the robberies. 'I feel very upset that big auctioneers are selling what should really belong to everybody,' he said.
Most smuggled antiquities are exported illegally through Hong Kong.
One of the biggest threats to the nation's cultural heritage now is the internet. Online auction houses can put clients in touch with mainland operations dealing in goods illegal to export. A range of items purportedly thousands of years old are available for as little as US$80.
