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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will make available the last batch of 24 474 new niches located in Wo Hop Shek Kiu Tau Road Columbarium and Diamond Hill Columbarium for allocation. Applicants can submit their applications, including online ones, from next Tuesday (June 24).
About 45 200 new niches at Wo Hop Shek Kiu Tau Road Columbarium and Diamond Hill Columbarium have been ready for allocation in three phases since September 2012. A total of 20 697 niches were successfully allocated in the first two phases of allocation.
"The remaining 24 474 new niches will be made available for allocation in the third phase which is also the last phase of allocation. Among them, 23 969 are in Wo Hop Shek Kiu Tau Road Columbarium Phase V while the remaining 505 are in Diamond Hill Columbarium. Applications will be accepted between 9am next Tuesday and 5pm on July 24," an FEHD spokesman said today (June 19).
"For applicants not invited for selection in the first two phases and have indicated in their applications that they agree to make an application at the subsequent phases of allocation, there is no need for them to submit fresh applications as their applications will be automatically brought forward to the computer ballot of the third phase," the spokesman said.
The two types of niches for allocation are standard niches, which can hold the ashes of two or more deceased persons, and large niches, which can hold the ashes of four or more deceased persons. They are situated in different sections of the two columbaria, including indoor, outdoor, smoke-free and non-smoke-free areas, and on different floors.
To encourage people to adopt environmentally friendly ways, like offering flowers, to pay tribute to the deceased, every new niche is furnished with a flower receptacle. In addition, furnaces for burning joss paper are installed outside the building of Wo Hop Shek Kiu Tau Road Columbarium to maintain good air quality on each floor.
The spokesman said that an open computer ballot will be held on September 11 (Thursday) to determine the selection priority of eligible applicants. A letter will be sent to the applicants according to their priority numbers to invite them to go to the FEHD's Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria (C&C) Office at designated dates and times for selecting niches.
The ballot results will be posted at the FEHD's Hong Kong C&C Office and Kowloon C&C Office and uploaded to the department's website. In addition, applicants will be notified of the results by SMS, email or post. Applicants may call 2304 8906 to enquire about the ballot results.
Application forms can be obtained in person from the FEHD's Hong Kong C&C Office or Kowloon C&C Office, by fax or by download from its website (www.fehd.gov.hk). Applications for large niches and standard niches will be handled separately. Form A should be used for applying for large niches while Form B is for standard niches.
The fees for a standard niche, a large niche and placing a memorial plaque at Diamond Hill Columbarium and Wo Hop Shek Kiu Tau Road Columbarium are $2,800, $3,600 and $90 respectively. The fee for subsequent placing of ashes of each additional deceased person will be $140.
An applicant must submit a duly completed application form together with the originals or copies of the necessary documents (depending on the circumstances) within the application period.
The spokesman said that applications can be submitted by putting them into the drop-in box in the FEHD's Hong Kong C&C Office or Kowloon C&C Office during office hours, as well as by fax, by email or by post. In addition, those who are holding a "Permit to Take Away Cremated Ashes" or "Certificate of Cremation" of the deceased can also fill in the e-form for online submission (website: www.fehd.gov.hk). Late applications will not be accepted.
Information on the FEHD's C&C Offices is as follows:
Hong Kong C&C Office
Address: 1J, Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Tel: 2570 4318
Fax: 2591 1879
Kowloon C&C Office
Address: Upper Ground Floor, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon
Tel: 2365 5321
Fax: 2176 4963
Enquiries:
Enquiry hotline: 2304 8906
Enquiry email: enquiry_newniche@fehd.gov.hk
Website: www.fehd.gov.hk
Ends/Thursday, June 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:01
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