million of our relics are being held captive in private and public collections in other countries!”
“Until very recently almost anyone could walk into a country and take whatever they wanted,” David explained, “but then some of the most famous museums in the world would not be so famous if not for this practice. I think of the Elgin Marbles in the British Museum or the Egyptian artifacts in the Louvre. Often relics of this sort can be repatriated. Countries that wish to keep their friendship with China are most willing to negotiate returns.”
“Attorney Stark is right,” Ho agreed. “But we must know where they are in order to retrieve them.”
“What about the Poly Group bronzes?” Hulan asked. “You knew where they were.”
David had always admired the way Hulan refused to succumb to the strictures of female decorum in her investigations, although Director Ho was not so appreciative of her impertinence.
“Those bronzes were ransacked from the Summer Palace by British and French troops one hundred and forty years ago,” Ho said plaintively. “When Christie’s and Sotheby’s put them up for sale two years ago, we asked that they be returned to Beijing.”
David remembered this case clearly. At the time, Hulan had said that the government should have hired him to deal with the auction houses. Instead the PRC issued a proclamation to the effect that there would no longer be a policy of looking the other way while the nation’s treasures were sold off in a city that once again belonged to China. The Hong Kong courts thought otherwise. One country, two systems. Mainland China’s laws protecting national treasures did not apply in Hong Kong, where stolen antiquities were openly displayed for sale in shops along Hollywood Road. So the bronzes had gone on the block, with the Poly Group, a commercial arm of the People’s Liberation Army, making the winning bids to the tune of $6 million U.S. The Poly Group said they’d made the purchase as a matter of patriotic pride. But instead of donating the bronzes to a museum, the group had used them as a marketing tool, sending them on a tour around the country to attract new customers.
“We would all like to prevent a repeat of that embarrassment,” Zai confided to David, “which is why you are here. From the ministry’s perspective, prosecution is less important than retrieval and repatriation, if indeed the artifacts have left the country.”
David thought about what Director Ho had said in their earlier meeting. All kinds of diplomatic problems could arise if the thieves turned out to be foreigners. It would be easier in the long run to settle things quietly….
“Of course, if Chinese nationals are involved,” Zai went on, staying a step ahead of David, “Inspector Liu should make arrests.”
“Explain something to me, Vice Minister,” Hulan cut in. “What is the real concern here? Brian McCarthy’s death or these missing relics?”
“The young man’s death is a tragedy, no? We can all agree on that. And of course I’m concerned about the others….”
“Others?” Hulan asked, and David could tell by her voice that she couldn’t help being intrigued by the facts.
Over the next few minutes Zai recounted what David had learned about the deaths of the peasants.
Hulan inquired, “Why was I not informed of this before?”
“It was better that we all hear this together,” Zai responded evenly.
“Is there any proof that the thefts and the deaths are connected?” she asked.
“None,” Zai answered, “but you should assume they are. Again let me clarify, you are to investigate Brian McCarthy’s murder. If these other deaths also turn out to be murders, then you know your duty. Attorney Stark is to look into the thefts and—”
Perhaps finally understanding how closely she and David would need to work together, Hulan said to Zai, “It is not my place to make suggestions to the vice minister, but I still believe this case would be
“Until very recently almost anyone could walk into a country and take whatever they wanted,” David explained, “but then some of the most famous museums in the world would not be so famous if not for this practice. I think of the Elgin Marbles in the British Museum or the Egyptian artifacts in the Louvre. Often relics of this sort can be repatriated. Countries that wish to keep their friendship with China are most willing to negotiate returns.”
“Attorney Stark is right,” Ho agreed. “But we must know where they are in order to retrieve them.”
“What about the Poly Group bronzes?” Hulan asked. “You knew where they were.”
David had always admired the way Hulan refused to succumb to the strictures of female decorum in her investigations, although Director Ho was not so appreciative of her impertinence.
“Those bronzes were ransacked from the Summer Palace by British and French troops one hundred and forty years ago,” Ho said plaintively. “When Christie’s and Sotheby’s put them up for sale two years ago, we asked that they be returned to Beijing.”
David remembered this case clearly. At the time, Hulan had said that the government should have hired him to deal with the auction houses. Instead the PRC issued a proclamation to the effect that there would no longer be a policy of looking the other way while the nation’s treasures were sold off in a city that once again belonged to China. The Hong Kong courts thought otherwise. One country, two systems. Mainland China’s laws protecting national treasures did not apply in Hong Kong, where stolen antiquities were openly displayed for sale in shops along Hollywood Road. So the bronzes had gone on the block, with the Poly Group, a commercial arm of the People’s Liberation Army, making the winning bids to the tune of $6 million U.S. The Poly Group said they’d made the purchase as a matter of patriotic pride. But instead of donating the bronzes to a museum, the group had used them as a marketing tool, sending them on a tour around the country to attract new customers.
“We would all like to prevent a repeat of that embarrassment,” Zai confided to David, “which is why you are here. From the ministry’s perspective, prosecution is less important than retrieval and repatriation, if indeed the artifacts have left the country.”
David thought about what Director Ho had said in their earlier meeting. All kinds of diplomatic problems could arise if the thieves turned out to be foreigners. It would be easier in the long run to settle things quietly….
“Of course, if Chinese nationals are involved,” Zai went on, staying a step ahead of David, “Inspector Liu should make arrests.”
“Explain something to me, Vice Minister,” Hulan cut in. “What is the real concern here? Brian McCarthy’s death or these missing relics?”
“The young man’s death is a tragedy, no? We can all agree on that. And of course I’m concerned about the others….”
“Others?” Hulan asked, and David could tell by her voice that she couldn’t help being intrigued by the facts.
Over the next few minutes Zai recounted what David had learned about the deaths of the peasants.
Hulan inquired, “Why was I not informed of this before?”
“It was better that we all hear this together,” Zai responded evenly.
“Is there any proof that the thefts and the deaths are connected?” she asked.
“None,” Zai answered, “but you should assume they are. Again let me clarify, you are to investigate Brian McCarthy’s murder. If these other deaths also turn out to be murders, then you know your duty. Attorney Stark is to look into the thefts and—”
Perhaps finally understanding how closely she and David would need to work together, Hulan said to Zai, “It is not my place to make suggestions to the vice minister, but I still believe this case would be
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