Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ14: Demand and supply of public niches

     Following is a question by the Hon Frederick FUNG and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (June 2):

 

Question:

 

     Regarding the demand and supply of niches for placing the ashes of the deceased, will the Government inform this Council:

 

(a)    of the number of applications received by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) for placing the ashes of the deceased in the niches of columbaria managed by FEHD in each of the past three years, the average waiting time of each application and the fees involved;

 

(b)    whether the demand and supply of public niches are reviewed regularly; if so, of the time and result of the last review; if not, the reasons for that; and

 

(c)    of the current legislation and measures for regulating the operation of columbaria in private premises?

 

Reply:

 

(a)    The number of applications received for niches at columbaria managed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) for each of the past three years is as follows -

 

 

         Year             Number of applications

         2001                  2,831

         2002                  5,702

         2003                  5,559

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fees for niches provided by FEHD are as follows -

 

                                Standard Niche   Large Niche

Urban area                        $2,800          $3,600

New Territories                    $3,000          $4,000

 

     FEHD releases 30 new niches daily for public application, a supply that is sufficient in meeting the current demand for public niches. Upon receipt of applications for new niches, FEHD will issue a letter of approval for allocation to the applicants within three working days. The applicants may then obtain a new niche within one month from the issue of the letter. For applications to use occupied niches, the allocation time varies subject to the availability of niches in the applicants' preferred columbaria.

 

(b)    FEHD has been closely monitoring the availability of niches at its columbaria.  Private cemeteries and other organisations also provide niches for the public. At present, FEHD and other organisations are providing sufficient number of niches to meet the public's need. However, FEHD has plans at hand to provide more niches in its columbaria in anticipation of an increase in demand.

 

(c)    Given our primary policy concern in the provision and management of columbaria being public health, and that the storage of bone ashes does not pose any risks in that regard, the Government does not impose legislative or other controls on the operation of private columbaria.

 

Ends/Wednesday, June 2, 2004

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