Page 83 of 166
154
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
re-opened on 1 October 1983 providing two funeral service halls for use by the public free of charge. These funeral service halls, which measure 110 m2 each, are open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with each service session lasting for an hour. Bookings are normally made through licensed undertakers at the two Crematorium Booking Offices at Canton Road Government Offices Building in Kowloon and the Centre Point Commercial Building in Hong Kong.
Since the re-opening of the two funeral service halls on 1 October 1983, the usage rate has been declining steadily every year from an average of 2.45 sessions per day in 1984 to 1.2 sessions per day in September 1989. There were 575 sessions for 1987, 539 sessions for 1988 and 354 sessions for January to October 1989.
The usage of the funeral service halls is low because of the following reasons: (a) To maintain dignity and pride, Chinese people are reluctant to accept free funeral service unless there is absolutely no other alternative; (b) The financial capability of the general public has greatly improved in the past years, and the need for free funeral service is on the decline; (c) Those receiving public assistance from the Social Welfare Department are also entitled to a funeral service grant of up to $3,000. The minimum cost for a full funeral service package provided by the private funeral parlour subsidised by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals located next door to the Hung Hom Public Funeral Parlour is $3,000. On the other hand, even though the funeral service halls can be used free of charge, the cost of a coffin from an undertaker's shop is likely to exceed $3,000; (d) The general public of Hong Kong donate generously to those who died of misfortune or accidents, especially when the next-of-kin or relatives of the deceased are unable to pay for the funeral expenses. In addition, some charitable organizations operate emergency relief funds which provide for assistance in meeting funeral expenses.
The Department will adopt the following measures to promote the usage of funeral service halls in the Hung Hom Public Funeral Parlour:
(a) The Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Funeral Business General Association will be requested to seek the cooperation of its members to promote the use of this free service;
(b) For the convenience of the users, the existing ceremonial time in the funeral service halls will be extended from one hour to two hours; and
(c) Information leaflets will be distributed through the Births and Deaths Registries of the Immigration Department, the USD Cemetery and Crematorium Offices, and the CNTA and USD District Offices.
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, if we look at the figures for January 1989 to October 1989, the total number of sessions used is 354 and the average usage of 1.1 session per day, so the usage rate is extremely low.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 83 of 166
155
It seems that there is a tendency to decline. In other words, if the provision of such services by the Department is not really well received by the general public, could possibly consider cancelling such facilities and then make use of the building or the site for better purposes?
we
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, when we re-opened the service halls, actually parts of the building have been used for offices and storage area. Regarding whether the building should be considered for other purposes or not, I would suggest to refer it back to the Select Committee for consideration.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Sir, in the reply given by Mr. TONG, there are actually two major parts. The first part gives us four reasons why the usage of the funeral service halls is low. If we examine those four reasons, it seems that those are mainly financial reasons. For instance, members of the public do not really like to enjoy such free services because of their dignity and pride. It seems that all are considered from the financial angle. The second part of the answer mentions three major measures to boost the usage. Unfortunately, these three proposals do not really tie in with the reasons advanced for the low usage. For instance, to ask the Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Funeral Business General Association to help to promote the usage of this free service or to lengthen the ceremonial time from one hour to two hours and to distribute the leaflets through various offices of government departments. Since the measures made in fact are not commensurate with the reasons given, I would like to ask two questions. Firstly, are the Select Committee and the Department really looking at reasons for the low usage and then make proposals for boosting its usage? Secondly, have the Select Committee and the Department considered altering the funeral service provided free of charge? For instance, could we have open tender so that full range of low cost funeral services can be provided to the general public rather than allowing the general public to use it for two hours? Besides, some Chinese might also wish to use the hall for friends and relatives to pay tribute to the deceased the evening before the actual ceremonial day. Can the Select Committee consider this in order to solve the problem?
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, as I said when we re-opened the funeral parlour, parts of the premises have been used as offices and storage area. As regards Mr. Pao's suggestion of tendering the services for private operator to operate the Funeral Parlour, I wonder if this complies with the Lease Conditions of the site. I will refer it back to the Committee for consideration.
4. MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):—At the meeting of the 18 July 1989 I asked a question and a supplementary one about whether the Urban Council consider a change to By-laws 12(1) of the Hawker (Urban Council) By-laws whereby a proven close relative of a licensed hawker could register as an assistant and thereafter hawk in the absence of the licensee
Page 83 of 166
Page 83 of 166
154
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
re-opened on 1 October 1983 providing two funeral service halls for use
by the public free of charge. These funeral service halls, which measure 110 m2 each, are open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with each service session lasting for an hour. Bookings are normally made through licensed undertakers at the two Crematorium Booking Offices at Canton Road Government Offices Building in Kowloon and the Centre Point Commercial Building in Hong Kong.
Since the re-opening of the two funeral service halls on 1 October 1983, the usage rate has been declining steadily every year from an average of 2.45 sessions per day in 1984 to 1.2 sessions per day in September 1989. There were 575 sessions for 1987, 539 sessions for 1988 and 354 sessions for January to October 1989.
The usage of the funeral service halls is low because of the following reasons: (a) To maintain dignity and pride, Chinese people are reluctant to accept
free funeral service unless there is absolutely no other alternative; (b) The financial capability of the general public has greatly improved in the
past years, and the need for free funeral service is on the decline; (c) Those receiving public assistance from the Social Welfare Department are also entitled to a funeral service grant of up to $3,000. The minimum cost for a full funeral service package provided by the private funeral parlour subsidised by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals located next door to the Hung Hom Public Funeral Parlour is $3,000. On the other hand, even though the funeral service halls can be used free of charge, the cost of a coffin from an undertaker's shop is likely to exceed $3,000; (d) The general public of Hong Kong donate generously to those who died of misfortune or accidents, especially when the next-of-kin or relatives of the deceased are unable to pay for the funeral expenses. In addition, some charitable organizations operate emergency relief funds which provide for assistance in meeting funeral expenses.
The Department will adopt the following measures to promote the usage of funeral service halls in the Hung Hom Public Funeral Parlour:
(a) The Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Funeral Business General Association will be requested to seek the cooperation of its members to promote the use of this free service;
(b) For the convenience of the users, the existing ceremonial time in the
funeral service halls will be extended from one hour to two hours; and (c) Information leaflets will be distributed through the Births and Deaths Registries of the Immigration Department, the USD Cemetery and Crematorium Offices, and the CNTA and USD District Offices.
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, if we look at the figures for January 1989 to October 1989, the total number of sessions used is 354 and the average usage of 1.1 session per day, so the usage rate is extremely low.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 83 of 166
155
It seems that there is a tendency to decline. In other words, if the provision of such services by the Department is not really well received by the general public, could possibly consider cancelling such facilities and then make use of the building or the site for better purposes?
we
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, when we re-opened the service halls, actually parts of the building have been used for offices and storage area. Regarding whether the building should be considered for other purposes or not, I would suggest to refer it back to the Select Committee for consideration.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Sir, in the reply given by Mr. TONG, there are actually two major parts. The first part gives us four reasons why the usage of the funeral service halls is low. If we examine those four reasons, it seems that those are mainly financial reasons. For instance, members of the public do not really like to enjoy such free services because of their dignity and pride. It seems that all are considered from the financial angle. The second part of the answer mentions three major measures to boost the usage. Unfortunately, these three proposals do not really tie in with the reasons advanced for the low usage. For instance, to ask the Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Funeral Business General Association to help to promote the usage of this free service or to lengthen the ceremonial time from one hour to two hours and to distribute the leaflets through various offices of government departments. Since the measures made in fact are not commensurate with the reasons given, I would like to ask two questions. Firstly, are the Select Committee and the Department really looking at reasons for the low usage and then make proposals for boosting its usage? Secondly, have the Select Committee and the Department considered altering the funeral service provided free of charge? For instance, could we have open tender so that full range of low cost funeral services can be provided to the general public rather than allowing the general public to use it for two hours? Besides, some Chinese might also wish to use the hall for friends and relatives to pay tribute to the deceased the evening before the actual ceremonial day. Can the Select Committee consider this in order to solve the problem?
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, as I said when we re-opened the funeral parlour, parts of the premises have been used as offices and storage area. As regards Mr. Pao's suggestion of tendering the services for private operator to operate the Funeral Parlour, I wonder if this complies with the Lease Conditions of the site. I will refer it back to the Committee for consideration.
4. MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):—At the meeting of the 18 July 1989 I asked a question and a supplementary one about whether the Urban Council consider a change to By-laws 12(1) of the Hawker (Urban Council) By-laws whereby a proven close relative of a licensed hawker could register as an assistant and thereafter hawk in the absence of the licensee
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.