The Macau Cultural Bureau (IC) said in a statement yesterday that according to police reports that words in Chinese (“free to take”) were written close to two flyers posted on the balustrade of the stone stairway leading up to the Ruins of St. Paul.
The bureau said it was “concerned” about the matter.
The photos provided by the bureau show that the flyers advertise jobs for “underground” workers and deliverymen, with contact details written on the flyers.
According to the statement, as the case has been classified by the authorities as vandalising cultural heritage, the police are investigating the matter. The statement said that as soon as the police complete their investigation, the bureau will clean the stairway.
The statement said that the heritage site covers the façade of the Ruins of St. Paul, the stairway and the front grounds. The bureau urges residents and visitors to acknowledge the importance and care of the city’s precious cultural heritage, and not to damage any of its structures such as by posting advertisements or drawing on them. The statement underlined that heritage site vandalisers will face criminal prosecution.
The statement said that if residents find any damage or vandalism at the city’s cultural heritage sites, they should promptly report it to the bureau or the police. The statement said that the bureau will continue to promote and increase public awareness of protecting cultural heritage through various platforms.
This undated handout photo provided by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) yesterday shows two flyers posted on the balustrade leading to the Ruins of St. Paul.
This photo shows the scribble (“free to take” in Chinese) marked on the balustrade close to the two flyers.
