Family heirlooms worth millions of dollars that were stolen in Beijing in February may have turned up in Hong Kong, according to the owner of the antiques Aisin Gioro Baoxuan.

One of the stolen curios, a porcelain bowl, reportedly appeared in an auction house in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

"I saw a picture of the bowl on the auction house's website. I am sure that the brown bowl, whose decorative patterns are very special, is from my family," Baoxuan was quoted as saying by the Shanghai Morning Post.

Baoxuan did not deny the report yesterday but declined to offer further details as the Beijing police have asked her to remain silent to protect their investigation.

Baoxuan, president of the Hong Kong International Music Association, told China Daily that the antiques were handed down from her grandfather, Gunbu Zhabei, who was a hereditary marquis of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

She said the stolen antiques had been stored in an old wooden chest in a closet at her house in Beijing's Xicheng District.

"I went to Hong Kong during Spring Festival. When I came back to Beijing in late February, I found some things in my house had been moved a little.

"I did not take much notice at the time because the locks of my house gate and the closet did not have any traces of being picked," said Baoxuan.

But a month later, she opened the closet only to find the precious heirlooms gone.

"I suppose that the treasures were stolen by someone familiar to me," said Baoxuan.

So far, Beijing police have refused to comment on the case.

The stolen antiques are said to have included nearly 30 blue and white porcelain vases; writing brushes, ink sticks and ink slabs; and copper curios.

The total value of the stolen antiques was estimated at more than 70 million yuan (US$8.5 million), according to the Beijing-based Mirror newspaper.

Qing emperors

Baoxuan said Qing emperors often handed down treasures to their families and many of the items were gems made during the Song (960-1279) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties.

"I hope the police break the case as soon as possible. I am worried that the antiques could be transferred out of the country," said Baoxuan, adding that if the family treasures were recovered she would donate some to the State.

Baoxuan said the antiques were well looked after during the chaos of war in the 1930s and 1940s. They were confiscated during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) but were returned to her family in 1988 by the government.

"I feel great regret to my ancestors. I failed to look after the antiques properly," said Baoxuan.

Editor: Wing