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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will make available new niches at Cheung Chau Columbarium for allocation to indigenous villagers of Islands District, bona fide residents of Cheung Chau for a continuous residing period of not less than 10 years or their children. Applicants can submit their applications starting from tomorrow (February 18).
"One thousand new niches at Cheung Chau Columbarium will be made available for allocation. Application will be accepted between 9am tomorrow and 5pm on March 10," an FEHD spokesman said today (February 17).
The type of niche for allocation is the standard niche, which can accommodate at least two sets of cremated ashes, and arrangement can be made to place additional sets of cremated ashes in the niche if so preferred. To encourage people to adopt environmentally friendly ways, like offering flowers, to pay tribute to the deceased, every new niche is furnished with a flower receptacle.
The spokesman said that an open computer ballot will be held on March 18 (Tuesday) to determine the selection priority of all eligible applicants. A letter will be sent to the successful applicants according to their priority numbers to invite them to go to the FEHD Cheung Chau Environmental Hygiene Office of Islands District at designated dates and times for selecting niches.
The ballot results will be posted at the FEHD Cheung Chau Environmental Hygiene Office of Islands District, the Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office and the Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office. The results will also be uploaded to the department's website. Applicants may call 2150 7502 to enquire about the ballot results.
Applicants can download the application form (FEHB 136) from the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) or obtain it by fax (2591 1879/2176 4963) or in person from the FEHD Cheung Chau Environmental Hygiene Office of Islands District, the Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, and the Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office.
An applicant must submit a duly completed application form together with the originals or copies of the necessary documents (depending on the circumstances) within the application period.
The fees for a standard niche and placing a memorial plaque at the columbarium are $2,800 and $90 respectively. The fee for placing each additional urn in an allocated niche is $140.
The spokesman said that applications can be submitted through putting them into the drop-in box during office hours at the FEHD Cheung Chau Environmental Hygiene Office of Islands District, the Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office or the Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, or through sending them by fax or by post. Late applications will not be accepted.
If new niches are still available after the allocation, the FEHD will accept applications and allocate the remaining niches on a first-come, first-served basis until all the niches are allocated. Details will be announced later.
Information of FEHD Offices is as follows:
Cheung Chau Environmental Hygiene Office of Islands District
Address: Room 111, 1/F, Cheung Chau Market Complex, 2 Tai Hing Tai Road, Cheung Chau
Tel: 2981 5442
Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
Address: 1J, Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Tel: 2570 4318
Fax: 2591 1879
Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
Address: Upper Ground Floor, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon
Tel: 2365 5321
Fax: 2176 4963
Enquiries:
Enquiry hotline: 2150 7502
Website: www.fehd.gov.hk
Ends/Monday, February 17, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:01
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