XN000022-1982-05-21 — Page 13

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FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1982

ILL TO PROTECT HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES ********

THE EXISTING LAW GIVING PROTECTION TO HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES WILL BE IMPROVED UNDER A BILL PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

NEW PROVISIONS LAID DOWN IN THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 WILL ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO START PROTECTION EARLIER AND AT THE SAME TIME SAFEGUARD THE LEGITIMATE RIGHTS OF PRIVATE OWNERS OR OCCUPIERS OF THE SITES.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE DRAWBACK IN THE PRESENT LEGISLATION IS THE TIME LAG BETWEEN IDENTIFICATION OF A POTENTIAL MONUMENT AND ITS FORMAL DECLARATION AS A +MONUMENT*.

IN RECOMMENDING WHETHER A BUILDING OR PLACE SHOULD BE SO DECLARED, THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD HAS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT NOT ONLY THE INHERENT MERIT OF THE BUILDING OR PLACE BUT ALSO OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS THE OWNER'S VIEWS AND ITS STRUCTURAL STABILITY.

ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THEN MADE TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITY (SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS IN THE URBAN AREAS, SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION IN THE NT) WHO CAN MAKE THE DECLARATION WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR-IN- COUNCIL.

DURING THIS TIME THE BUILDING OR PLACE COULD BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED GIVEN THE RAPID PACE OF DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

UNDER THE BILL NOW PROPOSED, THE AUTHORITY WILL BE ABLE TO DECLARE A POTENTIAL MONUMENT AS A PROPOSED MONUMENT+ WHILE ITS CASE IS BEING CONSIDERED AND GIVE IT THE SAME LEGAL PROTECTION AS A +MONUMENT+.

IT WILL BE AN OFFENCE TO DAMAGE, DESTROY OR MAKE ANY ALTERATIONS TO THE PROPOSED MONUMENT+ WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORITY, HE SAID.

THE DECLARATION WILL BE VALID UP TO 12 MONTHS BUT WILL

NOT BE RENEWABLE IF THE MONUMENT IS ON PRIVATE LAND.

EXISTING COMPENSATION PROVISIONS FOR +MONUMENTS+ WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE OWNER OR LAWFUL OCCUPIER OF A +PROPOSED MONUMENT+ WHO WILL ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPLY TO THE AUTHORITY FOR WITHDRAWAL OF THE DECLARATION AND TO APPEAL FURTHER TO THE GOVERNOR, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

/OTHER IMPROVEMENTS