![[Course] International Cultural Heritage Law and Provenance Studies](https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/UNIGE70-120x86.jpg)
Chinese University of Hong Kong law professor Steven Gallagher discusses the weaknesses in Hong Kong’s current heritage laws.
Current Hong Kong laws fail the test of heritage protection
South China Morning Post, 25 July 2016
Many news stories have focused on disputes and issues involving Hong Kong’s “cultural heritage”.
Recently an underwater archaeology group discovered an ancient stone anchor and bronze cannons in the waters off Hong Kong and called for more government support for archaeological investigation. The demolition of Ho Tung Gardens and the delays caused to the Sha Tin to Central rail project by the discovery of the archaeological remains of a well at the former Sacred Hill in To Kwa Wan are still fresh memories.
High rents and greedy landlords have been accused of forcing out artisan workers and favourite food restaurants, representing loss of intangible cultural heritage. The issue of Queen’s Pier is also ongoing.
The body tasked with protecting heritage for us all, the Antiquities Advisory Board, has been criticised for being ineffective, weak and secretive, and the discovery of the remains of HMS Tamar is being ignored as much as possible.
Full story here.
