Legal and Institutional Framework

International Friends of the Great Wall was registered as a society on April 11th, 2001 in accordance with the provisions of section 5A (1) of the Societies Ordinance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (see Appendix 2).

The Society is a membership based, non-profit organization. The Constitution of The Society explains fully The Society's mission, institutional structure, work scope, rules and financial matters in the so-called preparatory period (from January 1st 2001 until a time deemed suitable). The Constitution notes that the two strategic partners of The Society are the Beijing Administrative Bureau for Cultural Relics and UNESCO Beijing Office.

In recognition of the urgent need for dedicated and permanent conservation work to protect the authenticity and integrity of extant Great Wal in the Beijing Municipality, International Friends of the Great Wall (hereafter known as The Society) and The Beijing Administrative Bureau for Cultural Relics (hereafter known as The Bureau) do hereby enter into a strategic partnership guided by the principles recorded in this document entitled "Memorandum of Understanding on Conservation of Beijing's Great Wall for the Perpetuation of China's Cultural and Natural Heritage".

Fundamentally, The Society and The Bureau recognize that the majesty of the Great Wall is composed of the ancient building in its natural setting, untarnished by the encroachment of development, and that our conservation efforts should strive to protect this inseparable whole which constitutes "The Cultural Landscape of the Great wall".

Specifically, The Society and The Bureau agree on the urgent need to build a working relationship that is capable of addressing the increasing variety, frequency and gravity of Great Wall conservation issues in a timely and professional way, and we pledge to work in partnership to fulfill this goal.

To this end, The Bureau will support the establishment of The Society's office in Beijing. It is anticipated that this office will eventually serve as the decision-making, management, administrative, research and teaching base of The Society. It will also act as the venue at which Chinese and foreign visiting scholars, funded by the Society or their own funds, can carry out work for The Society.

This work will include field surveying of the Great Wall; monitoring of its conservation problems; documenting its architecture and archeology as a basic means of conservation; promotion of cultural heritage management planning as a framework for the appropriate use and protection of the Great Wall; support in the implementation of Great Wall regulations (either existing or forthcoming); support in the prosecution of violators of regulations; funding of academic/field research on Great Wall conservation issues; teaching, promoting and publicizing the Society's mission and achievements; and piloting field stewardship initiatives to combat Great wall conservation problems.