SFH visits Tsuen Wan District (with photos)
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Accompanied by the Chairman of the TWDC, Mr Chung Wai-ping; the Vice Chairman of the TWDC, Mr Wong Wai-kit; and the District Officer (Tsuen Wan), Miss Jenny Yip, Professor Chan first arrived at Sham Shui Kok Drive to receive a briefing by staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on the latest situation of the proposed columbarium and transport infrastructure in the vicinity. It is planned that the new columbarium will provide some 26 000 niches.
Professor Chan said, "The Government is striving to increase the supply of public niches. Through implementing the district-based columbarium development scheme, the responsibility for developing columbarium facilities is shared by the 18 districts in the territory. We have so far secured support from the District Councils for 14 identified sites, providing about 590 000 new niches.
"In order to develop columbarium facilities in a sustainable way and optimise the use of land resources, we propose to introduce, starting from the next allocation exercise, an extendable arrangement for new allocation of public niches to expedite the circulation, i.e. an initial interment period of 20 years, followed by extension every 10 years. We will finish the consultation exercise with District Councils on the proposed adoption of extendable niches in the second quarter of this year."
Professor Chan stressed that based on the concept of sustainable development, the Government will simultaneously continue to actively promote green burial, including scattering ashes in Gardens of Remembrance or at sea. The FEHD will also continue to strengthen co-operation with non-government organisations providing hospice services.
Professor Chan also inspected Lady Trench General Out-patient Clinic to understand the out-patient service needs in the district and the future development of the clinic.
Later in the day, Professor Chan met with TWDC members to listen to their views on matters related to environmental hygiene and healthcare services in the district.
Ends/Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:35
Issued at HKT 18:35
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