Laws of the People's Republic of China

    Article 1  These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the
pertinent provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China for the
Protection of Cultural Relics for the purpose of strengthening the
administration of the work for the 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 paragraph shall not cover objects that
have remained underwater since 1911 that have nothing to do with important
historical events, revolutionary movements or renowned personages.

    Article 3  The ownership of the underwater cultural relics specified in
Items (1) and (2) of Paragraph 1 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 Item (3) of Paragraph 1 of
Article 2 of these Regulations, the state shall have the right to identify
the owners of the objects.

    Article 4  The State Administration for Protection of Cultural Relics
shall be the competent authority in charge of the registration of underwater
cultural relics, of the administration of the 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 for cultural relics at various levels in the
localities shall be in charge of the protection of the 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 for Protection of Cultural Relics may designate the
administrative departments for cultural relics in the localities to be in
charge of the administration of the work for the 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 of the People's Republic of China for 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 activities 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 Items (1) and (2) of Paragraph 1 of
Article 2 of these Regulations shall report promptly to the State
Administration for Protection of Cultural Relics or to the administrative
departments for cultural relics in the localities and those that have been
fished up shall be handed over promptly to the State Administration for
Protection of Cultural Relics or to the administrative departments for
cultural relics in the localities to be properly dealt with.

    Any units or individuals that have discovered by any means underwater
cultural relics specified in Item (3) of Paragraph 1 of Article 2 of these
Regulations shall report promptly to the State Administration for Protection
of Cultural Relics or to the administrative departments for cultural relics in
the localities and those that have been fished up shall be turned in promptly
to the State Administration for Protection of Cultural Relics or to the
administrative departments for cultural relics 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 units or individuals that intend 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
for Protection of Cultural Relics and submit the relevant data. Without
approval by the State Administration for Protection of Cultural Relics, no
units or individuals 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
therefor to the State Administration for Protection of Cultural Relics, 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 units or individuals that have been
permitted to effect archaeological exploration or excavation activities with
respect to underwater cultural relics, if the range of their activities covers
water under the jurisdiction of the harbour superintendancy, the case shall be
reported to the harbour superintendancy for verification and approval and the
harbour superintendancy shall, upon verification and approval, delineate the
safe operation area(s) and put out a navigation notice.

    Article 9  Any units or individuals that are 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 of
the People's Republic of China for the 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 of the People's Republic of China for the
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 Articles 8 and 9 of
these Regulations, if the violation has resulted in serious consequences, the
administrative department for cultural relics 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 for Protection of Cultural Relics
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 for Protection of Cultural Relics.

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