British Artist Calls for Return of Chinese Relics

The auction of two bronze fountainheads at the Christie's last week has triggered public debate both at home and abroad. Mark Lewis, a British muralist, and Ye Jinhong, head of the Chinese Association in Portsmouth, told CRI that the looted cultural relics should return to China. Our London correspondent Li Ningjing has the story.

Reporter:

Mark Lewis, a British artist in Portsmouth, said the auctioned bronze head of a rabbit and a rat are plunders and therefore they should be returned to their original owners.

"I think every country that has pillaged on other countries should always give back the spoils of war. I think if any country requests the return of old historical objects, if they're objects of interest and of historical importance, than we should hand them back as long as that country promises to put them on public display and not in private collections."

He did exactly what he said. In 2004, he was startled when he learnt that his great great grandfather had taken part in the notorious destruction of the Old Summer Palace in 1860 during the second Opium War. And the Qing Dynasty clock displayed in his city's Victoria Park was a plunder of the 1900 war to China. He felt so ashamed and began to work with others in urging the local government to return the clock. In 2005, the clock returned to its hometown of Tianjin, neighboring Beijing, after more than a century abroad.

Ye Jinhong, head of the Chinese Association in Portsmouth, is another important figure in bringing the historical relic back home. He says the auction at the Christie's were wrong because it's a principle that looted objects should be returned to their owners.

"In my opinion, these two sculptures are looted objects. The sculptures belong to China. China is the owner. Nowadays, if someone loots something or robs something, they'd return it when they're caught. The objects should be returned to the original owner. It's the same principle because no matter how many years later, if they found the owners of the objects, they should return to the owners, and not ask the owners to buy back the objects. It's completely wrong."

His words are echoed by Mark Lewis, the British artist.

"As I said, we need to give them back if it's important to another country and they're not so important for this country."

Today, a replica of the Qing Dynasty clock is erected in the park. It's a reflection of the friendship between the two peoples. No one can change the history. But the sincere remorse over past crimes can win the hearts of the victims.

Li Ningjing, CRI News, London.