************************************************************
A bigger vessel hired by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) came into service today (January 14) to ferry members of the public to scatter cremated human ashes at sea. The vessel can accommodate more than 200 passengers.
In recent years, more and more people have been choosing environmentally friendly forms of handling cremated human ashes, one of which is conducting memorial services and scattering cremains at sea, enabling the deceased to return to nature. The decision to enhance the ferry service was made by the department to better cater for the needs of the public.
The enhanced service was well-received. Most of the passengers on board today were satisfied with the stable and comfortable voyage and the spacious area for holding memorial ceremonies for the deceased, a spokesman for the FEHD said.
The vessel departed at 9am from North Point (East) Passenger Ferry Pier this morning to south of the West Lamma Channel. Regular trips will be arranged at 9am on the first and third Saturday mornings of each month to either south of the West Lamma Channel or east of Tung Lung Chau. Each ferry trip can accommodate 25 applicants, and each applicant can bring up to seven family members, relatives or friends on board.
"A funeral director was on board to assist family members and friends in the memorial ceremonies. After the memorial ceremonies, family members and friends passed the cremains of their loved one, together with fresh petals, to the embrace of nature," the spokesman said.
Officers from the FEHD were also on hand to assist family members to create personalised memorial pages for the deceased on the Internet Memorial Service. Family members can then pay tribute to their loved one anywhere, anytime, online.
"The number of people choosing to scatter cremains of the deceased at sea has increased fourfold over the past few years, from 160 applications in 2007 to more than 660 in 2011. Most of the applicants these days make use of the free ferry service provided by the department," the spokesman said.
"The number of people using the free ferry service is expected to further increase with the introduction of a bigger vessel. The department will monitor closely the public response and consider additional ferry schedules if necessary," he added.
Application forms and guidance notes on scattering human ashes at sea are available on the FEHD's website (www.fehd.gov.hk). Completed application forms should be submitted to the Hong Kong or Kowloon Permit Offices of the FEHD's Cemeteries and Crematoria Section at least 10 days prior to the proposed date for scattering cremated human ashes.
Approval will normally be given within five working days from the date of receipt of the application form, while the applicant or the person authorised by the applicant can select any designated ferry schedule within 10 weeks from the date of submitting the application form.
For details, please visit the website www.fehd.gov.hk/english/cc/niche_ferryashes.html or call 2570 4318 / 2365 5321.
Ends/Saturday, January 14, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:47
NNNN
