The Vice Chairman of the Quang Ngai province People’s Committee Nguyen Hoang Son has proposed that the Foreign Ministry ask competent agencies to recognise the royal ordinance on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands as a national treasure.

The royal ordinance of the Dang family on Ly Son Island.

Quang Ngai province suggested to the prime minister and the Foreign Ministry that they reward the Dang family in An Hai commune, Ly Son island district, who preserved the royal ordinance for 175 years.

The province also suggested that the government and the Foreign Ministry commend and reward individuals and organisations who contributed to transferring and receiving this valuable document from the Dang family; to help the Dang family to repair the family’s temple and the local authorities to preserve relics and ancient documents related to the Hoang Sa Bac Hai fleet (which was assigned to protect Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) islands under the Nguyen Dynasty) in Quang Ngai.

The local government asked for the government’s permission to make a comprehensive survey of all relics related to the Hoang Sa Bac Hai fleet in not only Ly Son district, but in the entire Quang Ngai province.

Other petitions proposed by Quang Ngai authorities include: surveying and assessing Han Nom documents held by families in Quang Ngai to seek documents about Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands; providing funds for organising an annual traditional ceremony to see soldiers off to Hoang Sa in An Vinh commune, Ly Son district at regional or national level.

VietNamNet/TT