TV1 40J
Page 138 of 485
Page 138 of 485
114
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
the procedure of allocating surrendered niches in the columbaria managed by the Council.
Regarding the first question, the Council completed the first columbarium with niches for the deposit of cremated ashes in Cape Collinson Crematorium in January 1963, while niches in Diamond Hill Crematorium were first offered for sale in August 1979. The allocation of new or re-used niches on a first-come-first-served basis has been adopted ever since those times.
This method of niche allocation is based on the principle of equity and is deemed as the fairest way to make full use of available resources taking into consideration the fluctuating number of deaths each month. It gives equal chance to every eligible Hong Kong resident, and also places the individual applicant on the same footing as an undertaker who may buy several niches at one time on behalf of his clients. The method has operated smoothly and has been supported by the Corruption Prevention Department of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. It is only when the available number of niches is inadequate to meet prospective demand that disadvantages appear. Under these temporary circumstances, there may be long queues and repeated visits to the Department's Cemetery and Crematoria offices.
Niches already sold to the public are vacated and surrendered to the Department for various reasons, such as emigration or removal of ashes to cemeteries or temples. Hence, the Department cannot predict at any point in time the exact number of vacated niches which will be available for allocation. All such niches will be listed in a notice displayed outside the shroff office and offered for sale on the first day of each month. The Department has pledged that letters of approval are issued to eligible persons within 3 working days from the receipt of the application. Upon production of the approval letter, niche will be allocated within 45 minutes. It is not possible to estimate the average waiting time especially for an unsuccessful applicant who must go to the end of the queue. The Department is presently looking into the computerisation of Cemeteries and Crematoria service, including the allocation of niches by computer, in a bid to shorten the processing time.
The second question asks what difficulties are met if the existing method is replaced by a system of prior registration. A system of prior registration hinges on the number of niches available for allocation, and in case of inadequate quantities, allocation by balloting to registered applicants must be introduced to ensure fairness. If registration is not coupled with ballot, the registration or waiting list may be dominated by applications filed by undertakers who may gain an unfair advantage over individual applicants. Furthermore, if the number of available niches remains small, the registration or waiting list may build up to an unacceptable level. Applicants under the false hope of obtaining a niche may have cause for complaint about the indefinite or excessively long wait. On the other hand, if the registration list is to be valid for a certain period of time only, say one or three months, it will necessitate repeated visits by unsuccessful applicants and will also involve additional
85
Page 139 of 485
Page 139 of 485
is not present in the original text, hence not included. The original text ends with "85" and does not have the page information for page 139. The corrected output remains as is.TV1 40J
Page 138 of 485
age 138 of 485
114
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
the procedure of allocating surrendered niches in the columbaria managed by the Council.
Regarding the first question, the Council completed the first columbarium with niches for the deposit of cremated ashes in Cape Collinson Crematorium in January 1963, while niches in Diamond Hill Crematorium were first offered for sale in August 1979. The allocation of new or re-used niches on a first-come-first-served basis has been adopted ever since those times.
This method of niche allocation is based on the principle of equity and is deemed as the fairest way to make full use of available resources taking into consideration the fluctuating number of deaths each month. It gives equal chance to every eligible Hong Kong resident, and also places the individual applicant on the same footing as an undertaker who may buy several niches at one time on behalf of his clients. The method has operated smoothly and has been supported by the Corruption Prevention Department of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. It is only when the available number of niches is inadequate to meet prospective demand that disadvantages appear. Under these temporary circumstances, there may be long queues and repeated visits to the Department's Cemetery and Crematoria offices.
Niches already sold to the public are vacated and surrendered to the Department for various reasons, such as emigration or removal of ashes to cemeteries or temples. Hence, the Department cannot predict at any point in time the exact number of vacated niches which will be available for allocation. All such niches will be listed in a notice displayed outside the shroff office and offered for sale on the first day of each month. The Department has pledged that letters of approval are issued to eligible persons within 3 working days from the receipt of the application. Upon production of the approval letter, niche will be allocated within 45 minutes. It is not possible to estimate the average waiting time especially for an unsuccessful applicant who must go to the end of the queue. The Department is presently looking into the computerisation of Cemeteries and Crematoria service, including the allocation of niches by computer, in a bid to shorten the processing time.
a
The second question asks what difficulties are met if the existing method is replaced by a system of prior registration. A system of prior registration hinges on the number of niches available for allocation, and in case of inadequate quantities, allocation by balloting to registered applicants must be introduced to ensure fairness. If registration is not coupled with ballot, the registration or waiting list may be dominated by applications filed by undertakers who may gain an unfair advantage over individual applicants. Furthermore, if the number of available niches remains small, the registration or waiting list may build up to an unacceptable level. Applicants under the false hope of obtaining a niche may have cause for complaint about the indefinite or excessively long wait. On the other hand, if the registration list is to be valid for a certain period of time only, say one or three months, it will necessitate repeated visits by unsuccessful applicants and will also involve additional
85
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