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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 17) that all services for the disposal of the dead would be suspended on Lunar New Year's Day (January 29).
A spokesman for the department said that on that day, no coffin would be accepted for burial at public cemeteries and no cremation of human remains would be undertaken at public crematoria. In addition, no transportation of coffins to public cemeteries would be carried out. All cemeteries and crematorium offices would be closed.
"Normal cremation services, burial services and transportation of coffins to public cemeteries will be carried out on January 28. The services will resume on January 30 after the Lunar New Year¡¯s Day," the spokesman said.
"During the Lunar New Year holidays from January 28 to 31, no bodies will be removed by the department from public mortuaries or hospitals.
"During the same period, all permit offices and cremation booking offices will close. Normal services will resume on February 1 after the holidays."
Ends/Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:30
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