Macau, 12 Feb – The drafting of a bill to protect Macau’s cultural heritage has been finalised and is ready for public consultations until April 30, Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) Director Heidi Ho Lai Chun da Luz announced during a press conference on Tuesday.
Heidi Ho said the scope of the 100-article bill had been expanded from the protection of tangible heritage to intangible heritage, adding that the bill proposes specific “safeguarding” measures for architectural sites, museums, libraries and archives that are not part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Macau.
In July 2005 UNESCO designated Macau’s historical centre as a World Heritage Site.
The Director of IC also pointed out that a cultural heritage committee was planned to be established to promote the protection of cultural heritage among the community and set up a link between the government and civil society.
“As Macau is heading towards sustainable development, heritage protection is facing some challenges,” Heidi Ho said, adding that the bill’s spirit was one way to raise public awareness and involvement in the protection of Macau’s cultural heritage.
The bill proposes a fine of up to 20,000 patacas (US$ 2,500) for daubing graffiti on buildings officially listed as having a recognised architectural interest or on objects that have an officially recognised memorial value, and a fine of up to 50,000 patacas (US$ 5,000) for putting up notice boards, billboards, posters or other similar items on those buildings.
The bill’s annex comprises a list of “classified” monuments, such as the Protestant Cemetery, and a list of “buildings of architectural value,” such as the Public Library in Coloane, as well as a list of protected “ensembles,” such as the Sao Lazaro district, and areas, such as Penha Hill.
(MacauNews)
