Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ2: Provision of columbarium niches

Following is a question by the Hon Albert Ho and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (November 15):

Question:

It has been reported that the private niches currently provided by monasteries represent one-third of the supply in the entire niche market and many of them are operated illegally. Regarding the entire niche market, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it has assessed the current situation of illegal operation of private columbaria; if so, of the details, including the locations of the illegally operated columbaria, the number of niches provided by such columbaria, the proportion of such niches in the entire private niche market, the factors conducive to the emergence of this type of columbaria, the public hygiene problems arising, the impact on town planning and the loss of revenue from land premiums involved;

(b) whether it has instituted prosecutions against illegally operated columbaria; if so, of the number of such prosecutions in the past three years; and

(c) on the basis of the latest position, of the updated information on the estimated demand for public and private niches in the coming 10 years, as well as the details and progress of the corresponding planning made?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The Government does not have comprehensive information or assessment on unauthorised columbaria. From a public hygiene perspective, cremated ashes are processed at a high temperature of over 850 degrees Celsius and do not constitute any hygiene problem.

The Town Planning Ordinance provides that the use and development of land should comply with the uses specified in the relevant statutory plan. Any contravention or uses without planning permission will be regarded as unauthorised developments. The Planning Department may initiate enforcement actions against an unauthorised development in accordance with the Town Planning Ordinance. Columbarium is no exception. Unless such use is clearly specified as permitted in the statutory plans, otherwise application for the land use is required.

As we do not have any statistics on the number of unauthorised columbaria, we cannot make any assessment relating to the land premium involved.

(b) No prosecution has been taken against unauthorised columbaria in the past three years.

(c) As a result of population growth, the number of deaths in Hong Kong has been increasing, and so is the number of cremations. In 2005, out of a total of 38 683 deaths in Hong Kong, 33 288 (i.e. 86%) dead bodies were cremated. The cremation rate is anticipated to rise further in the coming years, reaching 90% or more after 2010. Public demand for niches has been on the increase. The Government and non-government organisations have been providing niches for the public. Based on experience, it is estimated that the annual public demand for niches provided by the Government and the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (CPC) is some 20 000, catering for 60% of all the cremations.

The Government is actively planning to provide about 100 000 new niches by phases from 2007 to 2013. In the next two years, construction of a total of some 25 000 new niches will be completed in Cheung Chau, Wo Hop Shek, Diamond Hill and Kwai Chung. The Government is also planning to build several tens of thousands of new niches in Wo Hop Shek in 2010 and 2013. In addition, serious consideration is being given to developing columbarium facilities in Tuen Mun Area 46. The proposal was put before the Tuen Mun District Council in May this year, but was met with opposition from the District Council and local residents. The Government will continue to consult the District Councils concerned regarding the details of the proposed construction of columbaria in Wo Hop Shek and Tuen Mun, and will apply for funding from the Legislative Council for implementing the projects.

In addition, about 10 000 new niches will be provided by the CPC between now and next year.

To sum up, if the development plan for Tuen Mun cannot be completed as soon as possible, based on the Government's plans as detailed above regarding the provision of additional niches, it is anticipated that in the next ten years, Government and CPC niches will be in short supply in six of them. The annual shortfall is estimated to be 8 000 to some 20 000.

The Government does not have any data on the overall supply of niches by the private sector.


Ends/Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:18

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