Tougher penalties proposed for damage to cultural relics

China will toughen penalties for those who damage cultural relics, and also encourage the establishment of museums, parks and memorials to highlight the value of immovable relics, according to a draft amendment.

The draft revision to the Cultural Relics Protection Law was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for review on Friday.

People who start construction work without taking measures to protect immovable cultural relics, which results in damage to the relics, will face fines of up to 1 million yuan ($136,664), the draft said. The maximum fine for departments or companies in such situations is expected to reach 10 million yuan.

Under the current law, the highest fine for damaging cultural relics, whether an individual or a department, is 500,000 yuan.

Those who do not undertake surveys on immovable cultural relics or historical buildings in the process of reconstruction in old cities or land development also face punishment, the draft said.

"Increasing the punishment and the amount of fines is to effectively crack down on destroying cultural relics violations," Hu Heping, minister of culture and tourism, said on Friday while explaining the draft amendment to national legislators.

He said according to the draft, prosecutors will be allowed to initiate public-interest lawsuits if they find someone has seriously damaged cultural relics, causing the national or public interest to be harmed.

Calling for stronger protection of cultural relics, including ancient tombs, murals, stone carvings, ancient buildings or historical works of art, he also stressed the importance of proper use of the relics.

For example, the draft encourages the establishment of museums, memorials and archaeological site parks to strengthen protection of immovable cultural relics, display their value and educate the public, he said.

"Amending the law is to solve new problems concerning cultural relics protection in the new era, and promote the development of our fine traditional cultures," he added.

On Friday, draft amendments to the Marine Environment Protection Law, the State Council Organic Law, the Charity Law and the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, along with draft laws on patriotic education and food security, were also submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for review.