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The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, announced today (December 16), that following the release of the first batch of 12 potential sites in seven districts earlier this year, the Government has tentatively shortlisted five more potential sites in another five districts for building public columbarium facilities.
Briefing the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the 18 District Councils on the latest developments of the review on columbarium policy this morning, Dr Chow stressed that columbaria are essential facilities for the community and the Government would continue its efforts to identify suitable sites for columbarium development.
"With a growing population in Hong Kong, the number of deaths and cremations has been rising gradually every year. There is a genuine need for the Government to increase the supply of public columbarium facilities so as to relieve the shortage of niches," he said.
The Food and Health Bureau earlier conducted a public consultation and the views collected showed that the community in general agreed that different districts should collectively share responsibility for developing new columbarium facilities to meet the overall public demand.
Dr Chow said: "The Government previously released the first batch of 12 potential sites in seven districts in the consultation document on review of columbarium policy. Subsequently, we have continued with our efforts to identify suitable sites for columbarium development in other districts. We have now identified a second batch of potential sites comprising five new sites in five districts."
The five sites are located in Central and Western District, Wan Chai District, Sham Shui Po District, Kwun Tong District and Yau Tsim Mong District respectively. Details are as follows:
* Central and Western District - a site at Mount Davis Road, east of Chiu Yuen Cemetery;
* Wan Chai District - the Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office (part) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at Wong Nai Chung Road;
* Sham Shui Po District - a site north of Ching Cheung Road near Roman Catholic Cemetery;
* Kwun Tong District - a site next to the ex-Ma Yau Tong Central Landfill Site; and
* Yau Tsim Mong District - former school within Tin Hau Temple on Temple Street.
As with the first batch, the Government will study the feasibility of developing columbaria facilities on the above five sites. Once a site is identified as suitable for columbarium development, the relevant District Council will be formally consulted. The Government also pledges to improve the outlook and layout of the columbarium facilities through flexible design, in order to ease the concern and anxiety of neighbouring residents.
"The first batch of potential sites covers Eastern District, Wong Tai Sin District, Sha Tin District, North District, Tuen Mun District, Kwai Tsing District and Islands District respectively. Together with the potential sites announced today, we have altogether identified a total of 17 sites in 12 districts. We will continue to identify suitable sites in the remaining six districts, with a view to making a further announcement in the second quarter of next year," Dr Chow added.
Dr Chow reiterated that construction of public columbaria is not a task that can be accomplished overnight. The Government appeals to the District Councils and local residents for their understanding and support in implementing the columbarium development projects expeditiously.
Ends/Thursday, December 16, 2010
Issued at HKT 11:53
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