Events
CUHK LAW Greater China Legal History Seminar Series – ‘The History of Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau’ by Prof. Steven Gallagher
18 Sep 2026
12:30pm – 2:00pm (HKT)
Online via ZOOM
Professor Steven Gallagher, CUHK LAW
Steven Gallagher is a Professional Consultant, Professor in Practice of Law (by courtesy), and Associate Dean (Teaching and Student Experience). Steven has taught various aspects of property law in England and Hong Kong. In 2013, Steven introduced the course, Principles of Art, Antiquities, Cultural Heritage and the Law to the LLM programme at CUHK LAW. In 2023, Steven introduced the course, Principles of Digital Technology and Law to the Juris Doctor programme. His academic work includes 10 books, and more than 100 academic articles and other pieces on topics associated with property. For Hong Kong’s professional sector, Steven has contributed chapters and volumes for various professional works including Atkin’s Court Forms Hong Kong and Halsbury’s Laws of Hong Kong. He has also presented over 300 professional and academic seminars and conference papers. Steven’s research interests include the law affecting art, antiquities and cultural heritage, Chinese custom and law, legal history, property law, law and technology, and innovative ways to teach law. The latter includes using superhero films for problem based learning, flipped classrooms and digital learning initiatives promoting asynchronous and distance learning. Steven has been widely quoted in newspapers and television reports regarding legal issues involving property law, digital technology and law, and art, cultural heritage and law. In 2023, Steven published the textbook, “Digital Technology and Law”. He is not a technologist.
law@cuhk.edu.hk
The development of heritage safeguarding has followed markedly different historical paths in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This seminar traces the evolution of legal, institutional and individual approaches to the preservation of cultural heritage across these three jurisdictions, examining how imperial traditions, colonial administration, political transformation, and international norms have shaped contemporary heritage protection regimes.
The seminar begins by exploring early Chinese attitudes towards the preservation of cultural relics and monuments, before considering the establishment of modern cultural heritage laws in the People’s Republic of China and the growing influence of UNESCO conventions and international cultural policy. It then examines the distinct experiences of Hong Kong and Macau, where British and Portuguese colonial administrations developed different approaches to the protection of historic buildings, archaeological sites, and intangible cultural traditions. Particular attention will be paid to the emergence of heritage conservation movements, public participation in heritage protection, and the increasing recognition of cultural heritage as a component of identity, memory, and sustainable development.
The seminar will also consider the legal frameworks currently governing cultural heritage in the three jurisdictions and the challenges created by differing systems of governance under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework. Topics will include the protection of movable and immovable heritage, intangible cultural heritage, world heritage sites, and the prevention of illicit trafficking in cultural objects. Recent efforts to promote cooperation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will be assessed as part of a broader discussion about the future of regional heritage governance.
Language: English
*CPD credits are available upon application and subject to accreditation by the Law Society of Hong Kong (currently pending).
