FEHD proactively co-ordinates supply of coffins and enhances cremation services (with photos/video)
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (March 18) that pursuant to the co-ordination by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with relevant Mainland authorities on the quota on the cross-boundary goods vehicle trips and sea freight arrangements for the supply of coffins to Hong Kong, around 330 coffins have arrived in Hong Kong via sea and land today, helping to supplement the coffin supply. In addition, taking into consideration the pressing need for cremation services by the public, all crematoria of the FEHD will continue to provide cremation services on the day of Ching Ming Festival (April 5).
Local coffin suppliers have once experienced difficulties in getting coffins delivered recently due to the epidemic on the two sides. After co-ordination efforts by the Food and Health Bureau and the FEHD, taking into account the coffins which arrived today, a total of over 1,200 coffins have arrived in Hong Kong smoothly via land and sea over the past five days, and it is expected that another around 500 coffins will arrive in the next two days. The spokesman again expressed gratitude for the assistance from the Mainland, and said the department will maintain close liaison with the trade in providing all practical assistance when necessary.
Separately, as a large crowd is expected to visit cemeteries and columbaria to pay tribute to ancestors on the day of Ching Ming Festival, crematoria of the FEHD are normally closed on that day in order not to impose an extra burden on the traffic situation. This year, taking into account the pressing need for cremation services by the public, the FEHD has decided to maintain the operation of all crematoria on the day of Ching Ming Festival. The spokesman reminded those using cremation services on the day of Ching Ming Festival that they should pay attention to the special traffic and transport arrangements to be implemented in the vicinity of respective crematoria on that day. Except for hearses, funeral vehicles and permitted vehicles, no other vehicles will be allowed to enter the crematoria of the FEHD while the special traffic and transport arrangements are in operation. For details of the arrangements, please visit the Transport Department website (www.td.gov.hk).
The FEHD has earlier significantly increased the daily cremation sessions available for booking from 130-140 to 260-300. Currently, there remain sufficient cremation sessions available. In view of the recent upsurge in the applications for cremation services at FEHD crematoria, the FEHD has increased manpower correspondingly to ensure that all cremation booking services applied for can be handled within the same working day.
Regarding matters such as streamlining the workflow and shortening the time required for the handling of after-death arrangements, following proactive follow-up actions by the Hospital Authority and the Government, positive responses have been made in various segments of the process. The written reply detailing the progress made and the measures proposed by the Hospital Authority, the Department of Health and the FEHD has been uploaded onto the FEHD's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/cc/webinar_funeral_trade_20220316.html). The FEHD will continue to co-ordinate with relevant public organisations and government departments with a view to assisting sectors of the funeral business and bereaved families to handle after-death arrangements for the deceased as early as possible.
