SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1977
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO PROTECT BURIAL RIGHTS OF N.T. VILLAGERS *****
THE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT HILLSIDE BURIALS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS.
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. MORRIS MORGAN, SAID TODAY THE LEGISLATION, WHEN ENACTED, WOULD PROVIDE LEGAL PROTECTION FOR BURIALS OF INDIGENOUS NEW TERRITORIES VILLAGERS AND AIM TO STAMP OUT ILLEGAL BURIALS.
IN ADDITION, THE CONTROL MEASURES WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF REDUCING EROSION, FIRE AND HEALTH HAZARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
MR. MORGAN DISCUSSED THE PROPOSALS THIS WEEK AT A MEETING WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, LED BY ITS CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAN YAT-SAN.
ANOTHER MEETING WITH THE KUK WILL BE HELD IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSALS.
+EVERY YEAR THERE ARE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF ILLEGAL BURIALS ON HILLSIDES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. MORGAN SAID.
+ IN ORDER TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM, WE MUST BRING THE TRADITIONAL RIGHTS OF THE VILLAGERS WITHIN THE LAW AND THEN BAN HILLSIDE BURIALS FOR ALL OTHER PERSONS.+
TO DO THIS, HE SAID, IT WAS PROPOSED TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE.
THE AMENDMENTS WOULD PROVIDE THAT A DISTRICT OFFICER ISSUED A CERTIFICATE AUTHORISING A HILLSIDE BURIAL FOR A DECEASED INDIGENOUS VILLAGER.
AS AN ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARD THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO CONTAIN MEASURES WHICH WOULD REQUIRE ALL UNDERTAKERS AND FUNERAL PARLOURS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO BE REGISTERED AND TO KEEP COMPREHENSIVE RECORDS, MR. MORGAN ADDED.
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