Press Releases
Government adopts multi-pronged approach to handle columbarium issue
A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau re-affirmed today (March 16) that
the Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach encompassing increasing
the supply of public columbarium facilities, enhancing consumer protection
and formulating licensing scheme to address the public concerns on the
public niche supply and regulation of private columbaria.
The remarks were made in response to views expressed by a number of
deputations during a special meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on
Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene on the Public Consultation Document on
Licensing Scheme for Private Columbaria.
The spokesman pointed out that in the public consultation on review of
columbarium policy completed in 2010, the public expressed strong support
for a licensing scheme to enhance regulation of private columbaria. However,
views over the scope and intensity of regulation and the arrangements for
pre-existing columbaria were divergent.
"Hence, we launched the second public consultation on the proposed statutory
licensing scheme for private columbaria in December last year, proposing to
formulate a new piece of legislation titled the Private Columbaria
Ordinance, under which all private columbaria, unless exempted, shall be
subject to regulation under the licensing scheme."
"After the consultation ends on March 30, we will carefully analyse the
views and comments received, before finalising our legislative proposals."
the spokesman added.
In order to help the public make informed choices when purchasing niches
before the introduction of the licensing scheme, the Development Bureau has
published information on private columbaria that are known to the
Government. Currently, there are 32 private columbaria on Part A of the
information (private columbaria which comply with the user restrictions in
the land leases and the statutory town planning requirements and are not
illegally occupying Government land) and 66 on Part B (other private
columbaria made known to the Planning Department and/or Lands Department
that do not fall under Part A).
"We understand that some private columbaria in breach of relevant statutory
and Government requirements are seeking regularisation. We appeal to the
operators of private columbaria in Part B apply to relevant authorities for
regularisation as soon as possible" the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, consumer education has also been enhanced. Announcements in the
Public Interest on television and radio were launched in the past two years,
reminding members of the public who wish to purchase niches at private
columbaria the importance of obtaining from the operators full and complete
information in order to check whether the respective columbarium is
compliant with all relevant statutory and Government requirements, including
town planning requirements and land leases. Members of the public should
also ascertain from the operators of private columbaria how such operators
would look after the interest of their customers, such as how to handle the
interred niches properly and whether and how they would refund or compensate
their customers should the respective private columbarium be prohibited from
operating or cease operation. Members of the public should seek independent
legal advice on their rights when necessary.
On supply of public niches, the spokesman said, "We will adopt all feasible
measures to increase the relevant supply. The Government has been promoting
the district-based columbarium development scheme and has identified 24
potential sites in 18 districts in Hong Kong for columbarium development.
The Government is forging ahead with the technical feasibility studies on
relevant sites and will consult relevant District Councils before the sites
are confirmed for columbarium development."
The construction of a new public columbarium with 43,710 niches and a Garden
of Remembrance in the Wo Hop Shek Cemetery is underway for completion in mid
2012. The construction works in Diamond Hill Columbarium for 1,540 new
niches and Cheung Chau Cemetery for 990 new niches will also be completed in
early 2012 and late 2013 respectively. Together with the supply of the
Chinese Permanent Cemeteries, there will be over 120,000 new niches in the
coming five years (i.e. 2012 to 2016) to meet the overall public demand.
Ends/Friday, March 16, 2012
Issued at HKT 21:52
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