A new draft regulation posted on the official website of the Beijing municipal government on protecting the historical and cultural relics in the city, is now soliciting opinions from Beijing citizens.
Friday's Beijing Morning Post reported that the draft regulation has been included in the lawmaking agenda of the municipal congress.
The regulation says that construction activities in protected areas in the old city section must not destroy the original street patterns, the planning and building of major city roads should avoid the protected areas, and new buildings in the old city section are not allowed to exceed prescribed heights.
In addition, some organizations or residential buildings may be ordered to move out of areas where historical and cultural sites need protecting.
Anyone who is in breach of the regulation and demolishes protected buildings shall be fined heavily. Government officials who, without approval, change the protected areas or give directions to demolish, restructure, expand or move protected buildings shall face punishment according to law, the regulation says.
Comments and opinions from the public shall be taken into full consideration in the processing of making new laws and regulations in this respect, according to the Beijing Morning Post.
Early in January this year, China's Ministry of Construction issued a regulation to strengthen the protection of historical city streets and buildings, which took effect Feb. 1. The regulation requires Chinese cities set up specific protection areas, marked with purple lines, for historical streets, blocks and buildings, and all construction activities in these areas must be supervised.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2004)
