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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (September 25) launched the mobile version of its Internet Memorial Service (IMS) website (m.memorial.gov.hk). It enables users to pay tribute to their departed beloved via mobile phone at any time and from anywhere.
FEHD Senior Superintendent (Operations) Mr Li Ka-kei said, "Chung Yeung Festival is just around the corner. Members of the public can now express their affection and respect for their departed relatives and friends not only through the IMS website but also via its mobile version.
"Since the IMS website rolled out on June 10 last year, more than 3 340 persons have registered for the service, and about 3 900 memorial webpages have been created. A total of over 200 000 visits to the website and a hit rate of over 660 000 were recorded."
The IMS website won the Best Public Service Application (Public Services Website) Silver Award under the Hong Kong Information and Communications Technology Awards 2011.
Also, the FEHD Cemeteries and Crematoria Team, which set up the website, has just won a Specialised Service Team Award in this year's Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme for its innovative idea.
"To gauge the needs of IMS users with a view to improving its service, the FEHD conducted an online questionnaire survey in July this year and collected views from over 500 registered users. Many users hoped that the FEHD's memorial service website would go mobile," Mr Li said.
The FEHD Controller of Management Services, Mr Michael Chan, who is responsible for project co-ordination, said, "In view of the popular use of mobile devices and cell phones in society at present, it is an opportune time to launch the mobile version for IMS. It will provide the public with a simple, user-friendly platform to revive and share memories of their loved ones."
Mr Chan added, "Through the IMS mobile version, visitors can browse posted messages and profiles, photos and videos of the deceased. They can also leave messages, select preset photos as e-offerings to the departed and share memorial webpages with other relatives and friends.
"Webpage owners can log in through the mobile version to manage the message board and set up other features."
On how to create a memorial webpage, Mr Chan explained, "People can set up a memorial webpage for free, simply by online registration, for deceased relatives and friends who had used FEHD cemeteries and crematoria services, i.e. those whose remains were buried in public cemeteries or cremated in public crematoria, or whose cremated ashes were placed in public columbaria or scattered in FEHD Gardens of Remembrance or designated Hong Kong waters."
The online memorial and its mobile version provide another channel for people to pay tribute to the deceased.
"With the wide application of the Internet nowadays, sending and keeping memories of the departed online is in tune with the way of life of people these days. It also enables people to link up with their relatives and friends around the world in showing and sharing their affection for the deceased through a dedicated webpage at any time and from anywhere," Mr Li said.
For more information, please visit the IMS website (memorial.gov.hk) or its mobile version (m.memorial.gov.hk), or call the FEHD at 2951 4358 during office hours.
Ends/Sunday, September 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:03
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