Should a line be drawn between religion and commerce?

To most people the value of the realm of spirit cannot be measured with money.

However, the companies that manage the tourist resources of the four holy Buddhist mountains in China - Putuo, Wutai, Jiuhua and Emei - are trying to blur the distinction. Emei Tourism Co Ltd, which manages the tourist resources of Mount Emei, has already been listed in the A-share market, and the companies that manage the tourist resources of the other three sites are keen to follow suit so they can maximize their profits from exploiting these holy sites.

"To better develop and protect these religious and cultural resources" is often the excuse given by local governments when such firms seek to be listed.

But it is counterintuitive to protect a cultural or religious site by maximizing the exploitation of its tourist resources. Overexploitation of cultural and natural resources will damage their integrity. However, that is exactly what a listed firm will try to do to maximize its profits. It requires an impossible leap of faith to believe that a company will seek to be listed just so it can raise money to better protect a religious site.

The local government and the tourist company from Hong Kong that manage the tourist resources and scenic spots around Shaolin Temple, which is renowned for its kung fu and a popular tourist destination for tourists from all over the world, were ordered to rectify the messy environment early this year, which was a result of their failure to invest enough money to protect the cultural resources and scenic spots they were exploiting.

To better protect the integrity of these holy sites and their cultural relics, a clear line must be drawn between the operations these tourist companies can run and the conservation of the holy sites and their surroundings.

Local governments must be sober-minded about this: to ensure that tourist companies listing on the stock market do not blur the line and irrevocably damage our cultural heritage and areas of natural beauty.

This is a principle that cannot be compromised.