The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (July 14) that eligible "pre-cut-off columbaria" intending to make new applications for exemption may apply to the Private Columbaria Licensing Board (PCLB) between September 1, 2025, and November 30, 2025.

     The Private Columbaria (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (the Amendment Ordinance) came into force on May 30, 2025. One of the major amendments in the Amendment Ordinance is to provide eligible "pre-cut-off columbaria" with an additional option to make new applications for exemption, so that they may, by obtaining an exemption, keep the niches sold before the enactment date (i.e. June 30, 2017) of the Private Columbaria Ordinance (Cap. 630) (the Ordinance) and continue to operate at its current scale.

     Under the Amendment Ordinance, "pre-cut-off columbaria" making new applications for exemption must meet the new eligibility criteria and specified conditions (see Annex) to minimise their impact on the neighbourhood.

     The Amendment Ordinance empowers the PCLB to set a time limit for making new applications for exemption. The PCLB has specified the period from September 1, 2025, to November 30, 2025, as the time limit for eligible "pre-cut-off columbaria" to make new applications for exemption.

     To assist and facilitate eligible "pre-cut-off columbaria" in making their applications within the statutory period, the PCLB has uploaded the application guide to the FEHD's dedicated website "Regulation of Private Columbaria" (www.fehd.gov.hk/rpc). The Private Columbaria Affairs Office (PCAO) of the FEHD will also contact the eligible "pre-cut-off columbaria" individually to explain the application details and assist them in submitting the application.

     For enquiries about the details of making a new application for exemption, please contact the PCAO at 2892 2731 or email to rpc@fehd.gov.hk.

Ends/Monday, July 14, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:10

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