FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1981
MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED THE REVISION
OF FEES FOR BURIALS, CREMATIONS AND OTHER SERVICES
RELATED TO THE DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE.
WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY (FRIDAY), THE FEE FOR A BURIAL SITE AT A PUBLIC CEMETERY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE $250 FOR AN ADULT AND $125 FOR THE INTERMENT OF A CHILD UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE, COMPARED WITH THE OLD FEES OF $60 AND $30 RESPECTIVELY.
ALL HUMAN REMAINS WHICH ARE INTERRED IN PUBLIC CEMETERIES ARE REQUIRED TO BE EXHUMED AFTER SIX YEARS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. THE GRAVES ARE THEN REUSED.
AS FOR THE PERMANENT URN GRAVE SPACE IN THE PUBLIC CEMETERIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CHARGE WILL INCREASE FROM $100 TO $430.
IN THE CASE OF CREMATION OF AN ADULT AND A CHILD UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE, THE FEES WILL BE $120 AND $60 RESPECTIVELY, COMPARED WITH THE PRESENT FEE OF $60 AND $30. THIS WILL BRING THEM IN LINE WITH THE FEES FOR CREMATION IN THE URBAN AREA.
THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE CHARGE FOR THE TEMPORARY STORAGE OF ASHES FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS BUT A FEE OF $50 WILL BE IMPOSED FOR EACH MONTH OR PART OF A MONTH THEREAFTER.
FOR THE PERMANENT PLACING OF ASHES IN A COLUMBARIUM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, A SUM OF $1 000 WILL BE CHARGED FOR EACH STANDARD NICHE CAPABLE OF HOLDING TWO URNS (PREVIOUSLY $500) AND $4 000 FOR EACH FAMILY NICHE CAPABLE OF HOLDING FOUR URNS (PREVIOUSLY $2 000).
CHARGES FOR THE PLACING OF A MEMORIAL TABLET ON THE WALL OF A COLUMBARIUM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, OR A TREE PLANTED IN THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE OF A CREMATORIUM INCREASES FROM $25 TO $50.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE REVISION OF FEES FOR BURIALS AND CREMATIONS IS TO REFLECT MORE REALISTICALLY GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON THESE SERVICES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
NEVERTHELESS, THE 30 PER CENT GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY ON BURIAL FEES IS RETAINED. THERE IS ALSO A 50 PER CENT SUBSIDY ON CREMATION FEES IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF CREMATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BURIAL, HE ADDED.
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