**********************************************************
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (April 11) held an award presentation ceremony for the Green Burial Poster Design Competition to present awards to the winning students in recognition of their outstanding performance in the competition.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Assistant Director (Grade Management and Development) of the FEHD, Ms Chu Lan-ying, said the department had strived to promote green burial by encouraging the public to scatter cremated ashes of the deceased at sea or in Gardens of Remembrance (GoRs), and to pay tribute to their lost loved ones via the Internet Memorial Service (www.memorial.gov.hk) (IMS). The department also arranged memorial sailings during the Ching Ming Festival for the public to pay tribute to their lost loved ones whose ashes were scattered at sea. Similar arrangements will also be made at the coming Chung Yeung Festival.
She pointed out that green burial was gaining popularity in Hong Kong. In 2013, there were 3 151 green burial cases (including scattering cremated ashes at sea or in GoRs), which represented a five-fold increase on those in 2008. This reflected an increasing acceptance of the concept of returning to nature through green burial. Meanwhile, up to 2013, a total of 5 900 memorial webpages had been created under the IMS with a hit rate of over 1.64 million. More and more people paid tribute to their lost loved ones at any time and from anywhere via the Internet in place of burning joss sticks and paper offerings.
She said, "The FEHD organised the 'Green Burial Poster Design Competition' with an aim to enhance the understanding of green burial among youngsters. The competition, held between October 2013 and January 2014, was well received. We are glad that youngsters in Hong Kong support the promotion of green burial. The more than 60 entries received in the competition are not only creative but also able to fully reflect the theme of green burial. The FEHD plans to adopt the winning designs in its publicity materials on green burial in future, so as to enhance the promotion of relevant messages".
The award presentation ceremony cum opening of the exhibition of entries was held at the FEHD's Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre at 1/F, Block S4, Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Members of the public are invited to visit the exhibition, which will last for 30 days starting today.
A champion, first runner-up, second runner-up and two merit prizes were awarded in the competition. The list of awardees is as follows:
Champion: Kwong Ho-yan (The Church of Christ in China (CCC) Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School)
First runner-up: Chan Man-yau (CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School)
Second runner-up: Dai Yan-ting, Lydia (Chan Shu Kui Memorial School)
Merit prize: Wong Wing-yin (CCC Kei Yuen College)
Merit prize: Cheung Kong-ki (CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School)
Ends/Friday, April 11, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:31
NNNN
