Antiques may hit foreign auction blocks

Foreign auction houses may be allowed to sell Chinese antiques in China after the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council finishes reviewing a draft revision of the protection law on cultural relics.

The draft, which lifts the cap on foreign auction houses dealing in Chinese antiques, was presented to the Legislative Affairs Office in February. Later, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage will work together with the State Council to amend it.

It is the first time that the article banning foreign auction houses from bidding on Chinese antiques would be removed from the Law of Cultural Relics Protection.