3
Friday, June 18, 1971
ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS BILL, 1971
Covering Discovery Of Relics In Hong Kong
The draft Antiquities and Monuments Bill 1971 is published in today's
Government Gazette for the information of the public.
The purpose of the Bill is to establish control over archaeological
discoveries in Hong Kong and to ensure that items of historical interest are
preserved for the enjoyment of the community.
The Bill proposes that two Authorities should be created, one, the
Secretary for Home Affairs, for the urban areas and one, the District Commissioner,
New Territories, for the New Territories. Subject to the advice of an Advisory
Board these Authorities will have the power to declare sites and buildings to
be monuments, subject to the rights of property owners and with the approval
of the Governor.
All relics discovered in Hong Kong after the commencement of the
proposed legislation will belong to the Government, although in practice it would
retain only those objects of interest to the public for display in local museums.
Various clauses in the Bill relate to the payment of awards for finds
retained by the Government. Other clauses deal with permitted excavations and
the control, maintenance and protection of monuments.
A provisional Advisory Board will be appointed soon. Its first task
will be to consider in detail the practical implications of the legislation and
to assess the views of the general public before the draft bill is considered in
Legislative Council.
14....