Press Releases
Over 500 submissions received for consultation on columbarium policy review
Public consultation on the review of columbarium policy ended today
(September 30). As at 5pm today, the Government received a total of 520
submissions from individuals and organisations. During the consultation,
officials of the Food and Health Bureau have widely consulted different
sectors of the community through various channels, including the relevant
Legislative Council Panel, the relevant advisory bodies, all District
Councils, the trade and other stakeholders, to allow for more in-depth
deliberation on the subject.
"Members of the public have contributed a wide range of views and
suggestions on the review of columbarium policy during the consultation
which lasted for about three months. These include measures to increase the
supply of columbarium facilities, enhancing regulation of private
columbaria, sustainable development of columbarium facilities, promoting the
change of social customs, and strengthening publicity and consumer
education," a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said.
For increasing the supply of columbarium facilities, the submissions
reflected that most of the people supported the district-based columbarium
development scheme, but hoped that the Government could improve the design
of such facilities to enhance public acceptance. However, there were people
from districts expressing reservations about individual potential sites for
columbarium development. The Government is now conducting technical
feasibility studies for the potential sites (such as traffic impact
assessment). Once a site is identified to be suitable for columbarium
development, the relevant District Council will be formally consulted again.
Meanwhile, there were submissions supporting the conversion of industrial
buildings, which were not in proximity to residential buildings, into
columbarium facilities.
On enhancing regulation of private columbaria, most submissions supported a
licensing scheme. However, the public expressed divergent views over the
scope and level of regulation under the licensing scheme. Before the
introduction of the legislation, the public in general supported the
Government's action to release more information on private columbaria in the
interim, and advise people to exercise caution when purchasing private
columbarium niches to enhance consumer protection.
On sustainable development of columbarium facilities, most people supported
that the Government should continue its efforts in promoting the
transformation of social customs and encouraging the public to use
sustainable means of handling cremains and paying tribute to the deceased.
However, most people expressed reservations about the introduction of
time-limit lease and an annual management fee for columbarium facilities,
which aim to ensure effective use of the limited niche resources.
"After the consultation exercise, we will study and analyse views collected
and report back to the Legislative Council on the consultation outcome in
due course," the spokesman added.
Ends/Thursday, September 30, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:13
NNNN