Following the passage of the revised law, the Shaanxi Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Tourism Group of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, which announced its intention to be listed on the stock market last year, was removed of its right to operate on the ground of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). "The removal is compatible with the new law," said Xie Chensheng, an established scholar and former consultant to SACH.

The law has granted cultural relics administrative authorities, including SACH, greater power in the preservation and management of heritage sites around the country, said Shan Jixiang, the head of SACH.

New clauses have been added on the protection of unmovable heritage sites. Some additions include frescoes and representative buildings after 1840.

"The revised law can be better enforced because it calls upon not only the administration, but also other departments -- such as the construction, industry and commerce, public security, city planning and customs authorities -- to take responsibility for preserving cultural relics," said Ma Zishu, chair of the China Museum Society.

The legislation stipulates that governments at various levels should be responsible for assuring that cultural relics remain intact and that they settle all dilemmas that involve safeguarding the past and building the future.

"We who have worked in the field for decades, have a special emotion towards cultural relics. We sincerely wish that all cultural relic lovers feel content now that a new protection legislation has been enforced," said Ma.

(China Daily November 15, 2002)