LCQ13: Allocation of public niches
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Question:
According to the information of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, members of the public currently apply for the allocation of public niches mainly through two channels, namely the comprehensive allocation, which is carried out once a year (annual allocation), and the monthly allocation of public niches at the Tsang Tsui Columbarium (monthly allocation). However, there are views pointing out that if members of the public do not choose niches at the Tsang Tsui Columbarium, they must wait for the comprehensive allocation, for which applications are open from May to June each year. If they miss this period, they will have to wait for a whole year and make their own arrangements for temporary storage of cremains of the deceased, causing inconvenience and disturbance to members of the public. Therefore, the existing arrangements for applying for public niche application still need to be improved in terms of information transparency and convenience. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of applications for annual allocation and monthly allocation, the number of successful allocations and the success rates in the past five years; the average number of times successful applicants had to apply or participate in the ballot before being allocated a niche;
(2) of the respective average and median waiting times for applicants applying for public niches through the annual allocation, from the date of their first application to the date of successful allocation, with a breakdown by columbarium;
(3) whether the Government has grasped the current number of applications for public niches in which arrangements have to be made for temporary storage of cremains while awaiting niche allocation, the average waiting period and the level of fees for the relevant temporary storage; whether it has examined the compliance risks involved in the arrangements for temporary storage of cremains;
(4) of the channels through which the Government currently informs members of the public that, apart from the annual allocation, they can also apply for public niches at the Tsang Tsui Columbarium through the monthly allocation; whether it has plans to disseminate the relevant information more clearly and proactively at funeral parlours and temporary storage facilities for cremains, as well as on online; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(5) given that the Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin is due to open in the third quarter of this year, whether the Government has plans to adopt the same allocation method as the Tsang Tsui Columbarium and establish a regular mechanism (e.g. monthly allocation) for allocating niches at the Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin; if so, of the timetable and arrangements; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the question raised by the Hon Dominic Lee is as follows:
(1) and (2) At present, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) allocates public niches at the Tsang Tsui Columbarium on a monthly basis (monthly allocation). Meanwhile, the annual comprehensive allocation mechanism (annual allocation) is in place to allocate public niches at the Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling, the Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Eastern District, and the Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin which was newly opened in September 2025. Since mid-2020, all eligible applicants for the FEHD's public niches (whether through monthly or annual allocation) have been allocated with niches without the need to wait. The actual numbers of niches allocated over the past five years are tabulated by columbarium as follows:
| Columbarium | Year (Actual number of allocation) |
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| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
| Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun | 13 628 | 14 176 | 12 273 | 9 661 | 8 400 |
| Wo Hop Shek Columbarium (Phase VI) in Fanling | 6 225 | 6 945 | 3 171 | 3 482 | 3 013 |
| Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Eastern District | Not yet opened | Not yet opened | 4 844 | 5 026 | 3 983 |
| Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin | Not yet opened | Not yet opened | Not yet opened | Not yet opened | 3 339 |
(3) Members of the public may need temporary storage of cremains for various reasons, such as awaiting family decisions on disposal or arranging for transport out of Hong Kong for interment. The FEHD does not maintain statistics on the public's use of temporary storage of cremains. However, the FEHD provides citizens with the temporary storage service for cremains. Currently, the storage facilities have a combined capacity of about 77 000 sets of cremains, which is an adequate supply. The temporary storage service for cremains is charged at $80 per month. The initial storage period lasts three, six or 12 months, and is extendable upon expiry.
(4) The FEHD has set up dedicated webpages for both monthly and annual allocations, setting out the application information (including eligibility criteria, key dates, means of application, allocation arrangements and points to note). Members of the public may view the layout and elevation plans of niches available for allocation and check their application status online. Individuals who have registered for the annual allocation notification service on the webpage will be notified by SMS of the latest news on the application for the said allocation. Furthermore, the FEHD maintains the "After-Death Arrangements" thematic website to provide one-stop information on registration of a death, arrangements for a funeral, cremation and burial services, disposal of cremated ashes and so forth, along with details on applying for public niches. Such information has also been disseminated through the FEHD's social media pages.
Apart from online promotion, the FEHD adopts various offline means for publicity, such as arranging media interviews and organising thematic press conferences and information seminars on after-death arrangements, to elaborate on the mechanisms and application arrangements for monthly and annual allocation of public niches. Information on the application for public niches is also available at the FEHD's District Environmental Hygiene Offices, cemeteries, crematoria facilities and offices as well as District Offices for public reference.
In addition, the FEHD regularly provides representatives from the funeral trade (including licensed funeral parlours and undertakers) with the updates on the allocation of public niches, enabling the trade to suitably assist members of the public with their applications.
The FEHD will examine the effectiveness of different channels for disseminating information from time to time to ensure easy access to the relevant information by citizens in need.
(5) Completed in 2020, the Tsang Tsui Columbarium provides approximately 160 000 niches, several times the capacity of other facilities. Such ample supply allows the FEHD to steadily allocate niches on a monthly basis for a long period of time. Therefore, the department decided to pilot the monthly allocation model at that columbarium first.
Building on the successful experience of the Tsang Tsui Columbarium, the FEHD is preparing to allocate niches at other columbaria in a similar manner by first half of this year, while optimising the allocation mechanism. Under the new mechanism, the FEHD will set aside a certain number of niches each month from the Wo Hop Shek Columbarium (Phase VI) in Fanling, the Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Eastern District and the Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin, along with those at the Tsang Tsui Columbarium, for application by the public. This will not only maintain a stable supply of public niches in the medium and long term, but also offer the public more choices in the monthly allocation exercises. The FEHD will officially announce the details of the new mechanism and its application procedures in due course.
Ends/Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:18
Issued at HKT 12:18
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