The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) said yesterday that it had received 19 applications for inclusion into Macau’s list of statutorily protected intangible cultural heritage.
IC President Deland Leong Wai Man made the remarks during a press briefing yesterday after a closed-door meeting of the government-appointed Cultural Heritage Council at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape.
According to Leong, yesterday’s regular meeting focused on a raft of matters, followed by consultations to gather its members’ opinions, such as concerning the 19 applications’ status for inclusion into the intangible cultural heritage list.
Leung did not elaborate on the 19 bids.
In order to protect Macau’s intangible cultural heritage, Leong said that her bureau would continue to encourage entities associated with Macau’s intangible cultural heritage to apply for designation as the properties’ safeguarding units.
The council presented and sought opinions on the 19 applications, covering areas such as religious customs, culinary techniques, and craftsmanship. Applicants included associations, production companies, and businesses.
Installation of St Paul’s Ruins’ lightning rod ‘reversible’
Regarding opinions from visitors and residents that the lightning rod installed on top of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Ruins of St Paul’s has impacted its appearance, Leong said that her bureau had consulted the Academy of Cultural Heritage under the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) in Beijing and developed several alternative plans before arriving at the current solution, Leong said.
In addition to considering the lightning rod’s visual impact, according to Leong, the installation method was carefully evaluated – including avoiding invasive mounting techniques. Leong stressed that the current installation is reversible and has not caused any damage to the structure of the Ruins of St Paul’s.
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Deland Leong Wai Man (right) and Wu Chou Kit, a member of the Cultural Heritage Council, look on during yesterday’s press briefing at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape. Wu, a civil engineer by profession, is also a member of the Legislative Assembly (AL). – Photo: Armindo Neves
