活动
CUHK LAW Greater China Legal History Seminar Series - 'The Gates of Kam Tin – An Early Case of Repatriation of Looted Cultural Property' by Prof. Steven Gallagher (Online)
2024年10月18日
12:30pm – 2pm
Online via ZOOM
Professor Steven Gallagher, CUHK LAW
Steven Gallagher is a Professional Consultant, Professor in Practice of Law (by courtesy), and Associate Dean (Academic & Student Affairs). 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.
In 1898, China’s Qing Emperor leased the New Territories for 99 years to the British to extend the colony of Hong Kong. In 1899, British forces attempted to set up an administrative office in Tai Po in the newly acquired New Territories. They were surprised to be met with significant armed resistance from the indigenous residents. The “Six-day War” ensued. A British armed force was sent from Hong Kong into the New Territories. The indigenous Chinese forces were forced to retreat across the peninsula pursued by the British. The retreat ended before the gates of the walled village of Kat Hing Wai, Kam Tin. After the final battle, the gates of the village were removed. The Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Henry Arthur Blake, had a pair of the gates sent to London as trophies. Eventually they were transported to Blake’s estate in Ireland. In May 1925, after the villagers had asked the then Governor, Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs, to petition Blake’s widow for the return of the gates, two gates were returned. This seminar considers the contemporary laws and the political and social context affecting the gates removal from Kat Hing Wai, their acquisition as trophies by the British, and their return.
Language: English
