Hong Kong's role in looting: the uncomfortable truth
Hong Kong needs to examine its role in the illicit antiquities market and enforce its laws
If Hong Kong is concerned about the looting of art and antiquities from China in the past, it has to consider its position in the international art and antiques market today.
In the last 15 years there has been a marked change in Beijing's expressed concern and consequent policy regarding Chinese cultural heritage, focused on the looting of Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace, in 1860 by a combined force of British and French troops, led by Lord Elgin, a descendant of the purchaser of the Elgin Marbles.
In particular the attempts to sell bronze sculptures of animal heads from Yuanmingyuan's fountains resulted in criticism from Chinese citizens, including Jackie Chan, who loudly confirmed the views expressed at the time by French novelist Victor Hugo: "It was looting yesterday. It is still looting today." Chan even made a recent movie, Chinese Zodiac, about the heads.
The attempt in 2009 to sell the hare and rat sculptures at a Paris auction brought protests and legal challenges from Chinese citizens and the central government.
Attention was drawn to the looting of Yuanmingyuan when three of the heads were sold at auction in Hong Kong in 2000 to China Poly Group. Beijing then implemented new laws governing cultural relics and entered into agreements with other nations, such as the United States, regarding the illicit trade in Chinese antiquities.
Some Chinese citizens, prohibited from purchasing these disputed items by Beijing's concerns that doing so would legitimise the looting, began "purchasing" Chinese art and antiquities at auctions around the world, then refusing to pay. The Paris sale was prevented by one such heritage warrior. The hare and rat sculptures were returned to Beijing last year after talks with the auction house.