(Promulgated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China on October 20, 1989)

Article 1. These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics for the purpose of strengthening the management and protection of underwater cultural relics.

Article 2. The term "underwater cultural relics" referred to in these Regulations denotes the human cultural heritage that has historic, artistic and scientific values and that remains in the following waters:

(1) all the cultural relics of Chinese origin, or of unidentified origin, or of foreign origin that remain in the Chinese inland waters and territorial waters;

(2) cultural relics that are of Chinese origin or of unidentified origin that remain in sea areas outside the Chinese territorial waters but under Chinese jurisdiction according to the Chinese law;

(3) cultural relics of Chinese origin that remain in sea areas outside the territorial waters of any foreign country but under the jurisdiction of a certain country, or in the high seas.

The provisions in the preceding paragraphs shall not cover objects that have remained underwater since 1911 and have nothing to do with important historical events, revolutionary movements or renowned personages.

Article 3. The ownership of the underwater cultural relics specified in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 2 of these Regulations shall reside in the state and the state shall exercise jurisdiction over them; with respect to underwater cultural relics specified in Paragraphs (3) of Article 2 of these Regulations, the state shall have the right to identify the owners of the objects.

Article 4. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage shall be the competent authority in charge of the registration of underwater cultural relics, management and protection thereof, and of the work of examination and approval concerning the archaeological exploration and excavation activities with respect to underwater cultural relics.

Administrative departments of cultural heritage at various local levels shall be in charge of the protection of underwater cultural relics in their respective administrative regions and shall, in conjunction with the archaeological and research institutions for cultural relics, be in charge of the work to identify and assess the value of underwater cultural relics. With respect to underwater cultural relics in sea waters, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage may designate local administrative departments of cultural heritage to take charge of the management and protection of underwater cultural relics.

Article 5. On the basis of the value of underwater cultural relics, the State Council and the people's governments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government may in accordance with the pertinent procedures specified in the provisions in Chapter II of the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics, determine the underwater cultural relics protection units and underwater cultural relics reserves at the national or provincial levels and publicly announce them. Within the limits of the underwater cultural relics protection units and underwater cultural relics reserves, any activity that may jeopardize the safety of the underwater cultural relics, such as fishing and demolitions, shall be prohibited.

Article 6. Any units or individuals that have discovered by any means underwater cultural relics specified in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 2 of these Regulations shall report promptly to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage or to the local administrative departments of cultural heritage, and those that have been fished up shall be handed over promptly to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage or to the administrative departments of cultural heritage in the localities to be properly dealt with.

Any unit or individual that has discovered by any means underwater cultural relics specified in Paragraph (3) of Article 2 of these Regulations shall report promptly to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage or to the administrative departments of cultural heritage in the localities, and those that have been fished up shall be turned in promptly to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage or to the administrative departments of cultural heritage in the localities to be identified and assessed.

Article 7. Archaeological exploration and excavation activities with respect to underwater cultural relics shall have, as their objective, the protection of cultural relics and scientific research. Any unit or individual that intends to conduct in the waters under Chinese jurisdiction archaeological exploration or excavation activities with respect to underwater cultural relics shall apply to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and submit the relevant data. Without approval by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, no unit or individual may conduct by any means unauthorized exploration or excavation.

Foreign countries, international organizations and foreign legal persons or natural persons that are to conduct in the waters under Chinese jurisdiction archaeological exploration or excavation activities shall do so in cooperation with the Chinese side and shall submit their application therefore to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, which shall further submit it to the State Council of the People's Republic of China for special approval.

Article 8. With respect to any unit or individual that has been permitted to effect archaeological exploration or excavation activities of underwater cultural relics, if the range of their activities covers water under the jurisdiction of the harbor superintendence, the case shall be reported to the harbor superintendence for verification and approval and the harbor superintendence shall, upon verification and approval, delineate the safe operation area(s) and put out a navigation notice.

Article 9. Any unit or individual that is effecting archaeological exploration or excavation activities with respect to underwater cultural relics shall, in addition to complying with these Regulations, abide by other laws and regulations of China and accept the administration by the departments concerned, shall observe rules concerning underwater archaeological activities, diving and navigation and ensure the safety of the personnel and the underwater cultural relics, shall prevent the water from environmental pollution and protect the underwater  biological  resources and other natural resources from damage, shall protect all the surface and underwater facilities and may not obstruct communication and transportation, fishery  production, military drills and other normal surface and underwater operations and activities.

Article 10. Those who have made outstanding contributions to the protection of underwater cultural relics, if the circumstances are in conformity with those specified in the provisions in Article 29 of the Law on Protection of Cultural Relics, shall be commended or rewarded.

Those who, in violation of the provisions in Articles 5, 6 and 7 of these Regulations, damage underwater cultural relics, or explore, excavate or dredge up underwater cultural relics without authorization, or hide, share secretly, traffic in, illicitly sell or illicitly export underwater cultural relics, if the circumstances are found to be those specified in the provisions in Articles 30 and 31 of the Law on Protection of Cultural Relics, shall be given administrative sanctions or have their criminal liability investigated in accordance with the law.

With respect to those who violate the provisions in Article 8 and 9 of these Regulations, if the violation has resulted in serious consequences, the administrative department of cultural heritage shall, in conjunction with the departments concerned, order the operation to be suspended and set a deadline for correction or shall give such administrative sanctions as withdrawing the approval granted, with an additional imposition of a fine ranging from Renminbi 1,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan.

Article 11. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage shall be responsible for the interpretation of these Regulations.

Article 12. The rules for the implementation of these Regulations shall be formulated by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Article 13. These Regulations shall go into effect as of the date of promulgation.

Notice:

This English document is from the  "LAWS AND  REGULATIONS  OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7) which was compiled by the Bureau of Legislative Affairs of the State Council, and was published by the China Legal System Publishing House. In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.

(China.org.cn August 20, 2003)