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A new website (memorial.gov.hk) will enable users to pay tribute and express condolences to their lost loved ones any time and anywhere online in a warm, personalised yet solemn manner. It will be launched at 9am tomorrow (June 10).
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said with the wide application of the Internet, sending and safekeeping of condolence messages to the deceased online met the needs of society. It also enables people to link up with their relatives and friends overseas in paying tribute and expressing condolences to the deceased through a dedicated webpage.
The spokesman stressed that the initiative was one of the service enhancements of the department to further promote sustainable forms of mourning and burial. He said, "The website is not meant to replace traditional practices of paying tribute to the deceased. Moreover, the department will continue to strive to provide niches to meet the demands of the public."
The public may register to create a memorial webpage for their lost ones who are kept at public cemeteries, or have their cremains kept at public columbaria, or scattered in Gardens of Remembrance or at designated Hong Kong waters using FEHD services.
The spokesman said since the government cremation service covered 90 per cent of the deceased, most citizens could make use of the website.
Registration and creation of the memorial webpage is simple and free of charge. All one needs are an email address and particulars of the deceased person for confirmation. They can select a thematic layout, write the deceased's life story and express condolences, and upload photos and videos.
The webpage also provides various features, such as choice of setting as a private or public webpage, notifications of messages from visitors, reminders of the deceased's birthday and departure date, and background music. The owner can invite friends through email to browse the webpage and post messages.
Members of the public can search and browse uploaded webpages, and post messages on the public memorial webpages. On website security, the spokesman said that the website was set up for one to remember their forebears. In view of the tradition of people paying respect to those who passed away, the website should be running smoothly. He also appealed to the public to use the website properly so that it can serve its purpose of facilitating the general public to mourn and remember their lost loved ones.
"Following the launch, we will further collect views from the public in order to fine-tune the design and enrich the functions of the webpage, including the design of a memorial webpage for a couple and linkage to other memorial webpages. We will also review the operation regularly with a view to providing a user-oriented Internet memorial service," the spokesman said.
The cost incurred in the initial setup of the whole website, including consultant's fees and market research expenses, is around $1 million. The annual operating and maintenance cost is estimated to be around $800,000. The annual spending includes day-to-day running and maintenance of the website, network security, technical enhancement and data backup.
The public can call 2951 4358 during office hours to enquire about the webpage services. They can also liaise with the FEHD through memorial@fehd.gov.hk or the 1823 Call Centre.
In the event of the death of one's relatives or friends, the public may not know how to handle their after-death matters. The department's specially published booklet "A Guide to After-Death Arrangements" will provide them with comprehensive information. The booklet will be free for collection at places like hospitals, elderly centres managed or subsidised by the Social Welfare Department, district offices of the Home Affairs Department, non-profit-making organisations and FEHD's district environmental hygiene offices.
Information on the memorial webpage and the booklet will be uploaded onto the FEHD's website (www.fehd.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:45
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