Race for 16,000 columbarium niches begins on Monday
Race for 16,000 columbarium niches begins on Monday
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced that the application period for the over 16,000 new niches will be between May 19 and June 18. Photo: RTHK
Officials said applications for more than 16,000 new niches will open on Monday, including spaces at the newly-constructed Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin, which is set to begin operations this year.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will offer a total of 16,150 extendable niches: 4,000 standard and 50 large ones at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI; 6,000 standard and 50 large ones at Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium; and 6,000 standard and 50 large ones at Shek Mun Columbarium.
The initial interment period for the allocated public niches is 20 years, with an option to extend for an additional 10 years after that.
At the end of the period, users can keep their niche by extending the interment period and paying the required fee.
Jacqueline Ho, the department's assistance director of grade management and development, said that while the Wo Hop Shek and Cape Collinson-San Ha facilities have designated areas for burning joss sticks and offerings, the Shek Mun complex will be completely smoke-free.
"If [people] want to conduct the burning of offerings or of joss sticks [at Shek Mun Columbarium], we will ask them to leave," she said.
"We've already made a note on the application form and highlighted that the burning of offerings and the incense are prohibited," she said.
"In the application form, we have three venues, so you have to make the right choice to choose what you want."
Ho added that the department consulted residents nearby as well as the Sha Tin district council before deciding to make the new columbarium smoke-free, given its proximity to residential areas.
In terms of pricing, the department said standard niches will cost HK$2,400, while large niches are HK$3,000, with renewals every 10 years costing HK$1,200 and HK$1,500 respectively.
It added that applications will close on June 18 and ballot draws will be held in the third quarter.
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