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LCQ8: Funeral services
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     Following is a question by Hon Wong Kwok-hing and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (June 22):

Question:

     Since 2000, the right to operate the Hung Hom Public Funeral Parlour (HHPFP), constructed by the former Urban Council, has been granted to private institutions through open tender, but the operator is required to provide low-cost funeral services to specific groups of people referred by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) or the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at a specified fee as determined by SWD.  The incumbent operator of HHPFP has to pay a quarterly fee of HK$13.95 million to the Government for the operating right, and the five-year contract will expire on March 31, 2017.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it knows, since April 2012, (i) the number of deceased persons for whom funeral ceremonies were held in HHPFP each year and its percentage in the total number of deceased persons in that year, and (ii) the average usage rate of the service halls in HHPFP per annum;

(2) whether it knows, since April 2012, the average charges of various services provided by HHPFP each year, as well as the number of times for which low-cost funeral services were provided to specific groups of people each year and the average fee charged each time;

(3) whether the authorities have, since 2000, reviewed on a regular basis the level and charges of the funeral services provided by HHPFP, as well as the person-times using such services; if they have, of the details, and when the last review was conducted;

(4) whether the operator of HHPFP assisted in the promotion of green burials in the past three years; if the operator did, of the details;

(5) whether it has formulated a plan for the mode of operation and the direction of development of HHPFP in future (e.g. relocating or reprovisioning HHPFP); if it has, of the details; and

(6) as some members of the public have criticised that the fee for the operating right has indirectly pushed up the charges of the funeral services provided at HHPFP, whether the authorities will, in granting a new contract for the right to provide services next year, lower the fee for the operating right and cap the charges of funeral services; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

(1) In June 2002, the Government first contracted out the operating right of the Hung Hom Public Funeral Parlour (HHPFP) to the private sector through open tender.  At present, the HHPFP is operated by the Grand Peace Funeral Parlour (GPFP). The five-year operating right granted to GPFP will expire at the end of March 2017.

     The number of times GPFP's service halls were used as a ratio to the total number of deceased persons each year, and the usage rate of the service halls since April 2012 are listed in Annex 1.

(2) and (3) To ensure the availability of low-cost funeral services for those in need, the Government has included terms in the agreement relating to the operation of the HHPFP, requiring its operator to offer low-cost funeral services to specific groups of people referred by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) or the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). The funeral services in question should embrace in a holistic manner the basic and necessary services for the disposal of a dead body, at a fee not exceeding the limit of the burial grant set by SWD. To help ensure public awareness of the availability of the low-cost funeral services, the agreement also requires the operator to display details of the low-cost funeral services at a conspicuous position of the funeral parlour, and set up a website to provide service information including the price list. In case of violation of the agreement, the Government will require the operator to make improvement.

     From April 2012 up to now, the number of people using the low-cost funeral services provided by GPFP is listed in Annex 2.

     SWD adjusts the burial grant regularly. With effect from April 1, 2016, the applicable level of burial grant is $14,500.

     FEHD does not keep figures on the average fee charged by GPFP for its service halls each year.  

(4) We have not requested the operator of GPFP to provide information relating to green burial.

(5) and (6) At present, we have no plan to relocate or reprovision HHPFP. Upon the expiry of the operating right of GPFP in end March 2017, the Government will carry out proper on-site maintenance works and conduct a re-tender exercise for the operating right in accordance with the established open tendering procedures. Having regard to past experience and the prevailing circumstances, the Government will also impose appropriate terms in the agreement to ensure that the operation of HHPFP is in keeping with the public interest.

Ends/Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:22

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