Saturday, March 13, 2010

Heritage, Macao style

Why is it that real estate always get in the way of heritage? Why is it that whenever Macao is mentioned in the South China Morning Post — leaving aside Casinos' amazing growth figures — amateurs always rhyme with liars and we happen to look like fools?

Demolition near Ruins of St Paul's questioned
Fox Yi Hu, Mar 13, 2010 in SCMP
A demolition project near the Ruins of St Paul's may lead to archaeological finds relating to Macau's most famous landmark, once the base for Catholic missionary work in Asia. But some critics see the project as a veiled redevelopment plan that may spoil the surroundings of the UN-recognised world heritage site.
The Macau government has marked the location of four residential buildings to the northeast of the remaining facade of the 17th century church as an archaeological site.
Experts of world heritage protection advised the government to carry out more comprehensive archaeological work when possible to understand the original structure of the College of St Paul's, the government said.