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A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau re-affirmed today (March 16) that the Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach encompassing increasing the supply of public columbarium facilities, enhancing consumer protection and formulating licensing scheme to address the public concerns on the public niche supply and regulation of private columbaria.
The remarks were made in response to views expressed by a number of deputations during a special meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene on the Public Consultation Document on Licensing Scheme for Private Columbaria.
The spokesman pointed out that in the public consultation on review of columbarium policy completed in 2010, the public expressed strong support for a licensing scheme to enhance regulation of private columbaria. However, views over the scope and intensity of regulation and the arrangements for pre-existing columbaria were divergent.
"Hence, we launched the second public consultation on the proposed statutory licensing scheme for private columbaria in December last year, proposing to formulate a new piece of legislation titled the Private Columbaria Ordinance, under which all private columbaria, unless exempted, shall be subject to regulation under the licensing scheme."
"After the consultation ends on March 30, we will carefully analyse the views and comments received, before finalising our legislative proposals." the spokesman added.
In order to help the public make informed choices when purchasing niches before the introduction of the licensing scheme, the Development Bureau has published information on private columbaria that are known to the Government. Currently, there are 32 private columbaria on Part A of the information (private columbaria which comply with the user restrictions in the land leases and the statutory town planning requirements and are not illegally occupying Government land) and 66 on Part B (other private columbaria made known to the Planning Department and/or Lands Department that do not fall under Part A).
"We understand that some private columbaria in breach of relevant statutory and Government requirements are seeking regularisation. We appeal to the operators of private columbaria in Part B apply to relevant authorities for regularisation as soon as possible" the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, consumer education has also been enhanced. Announcements in the Public Interest on television and radio were launched in the past two years, reminding members of the public who wish to purchase niches at private columbaria the importance of obtaining from the operators full and complete information in order to check whether the respective columbarium is compliant with all relevant statutory and Government requirements, including town planning requirements and land leases. Members of the public should also ascertain from the operators of private columbaria how such operators would look after the interest of their customers, such as how to handle the interred niches properly and whether and how they would refund or compensate their customers should the respective private columbarium be prohibited from operating or cease operation. Members of the public should seek independent legal advice on their rights when necessary.
On supply of public niches, the spokesman said, "We will adopt all feasible measures to increase the relevant supply. The Government has been promoting the district-based columbarium development scheme and has identified 24 potential sites in 18 districts in Hong Kong for columbarium development. The Government is forging ahead with the technical feasibility studies on relevant sites and will consult relevant District Councils before the sites are confirmed for columbarium development."
The construction of a new public columbarium with 43,710 niches and a Garden of Remembrance in the Wo Hop Shek Cemetery is underway for completion in mid 2012. The construction works in Diamond Hill Columbarium for 1,540 new niches and Cheung Chau Cemetery for 990 new niches will also be completed in early 2012 and late 2013 respectively. Together with the supply of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries, there will be over 120,000 new niches in the coming five years (i.e. 2012 to 2016) to meet the overall public demand.
Ends/Friday, March 16, 2012
Issued at HKT 21:52
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