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manpower to maintain new lists, to conduct frequent ballots and to inform applicants of the results.
There will also be complications in the Regional Services Department if the suggested method is not adopted throughout Hong Kong. Taking into account the small number of surrendered niches and the large number of cremations carried out in Council venues, it is not feasible to allocate niches by prior registration.
Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, regarding the first-come-first-served method for allocation of newly surrendered niches, I would like to ask when do the applicants have to queue up after the information is posted outside the shroff office? I want to know whether we have adequate staff to monitor the queuing up process and what are the rules involved? Are people not allowed to leave the queue in between?
Mr. Joseph Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese):—The scenario of concern to Ms. AU only occurs at the Diamond Hill Crematorium because the number of available niches is really too small. At the present moment, we only have 52. Some people, when they emigrate, may remove the ashes and so some niches may be vacated. But the USD never can tell when such vacancies will occur. Therefore every month, we put up a notice to inform potential applicants. If applicants insist on having a place there, then they have to queue up. There are in fact 18,000 niches in Cape Collinson Columbarium but people are not interested in niches in Cape Collinson Columbarium. If they go there, they don't have to queue up. They can get their places immediately. If they insist on having a niche in Diamond Hill Crematorium, then they must queue up. This is unavoidable as it is allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. People at the back of the queue may not succeed in getting a niche. If they still want a niche there, they have to queue up again. Maybe we can publicise the arrangements and advise potential applicants to consider Cape Collinson Crematorium instead of Diamond Hill Crematorium, because Diamond Hill Crematorium has too few niches available. If they are willing to go to Cape Collinson Crematorium, there is no problem at all.
As far as queuing is concerned, I don't think we have staff to control the crowd in the queue. People queuing outside the office is outside our control and we may need the assistance of the police if there is any disorderly conduct. Since it is a matter of preference, I am afraid applicants will have to encounter some sort of difficulties.
Ms. Grace Au YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):—I don't think Mr. CHAN has answered my question. I asked him about the situation in Diamond Hill Crematorium. Many people are interested in Diamond Hill Crematorium and they want to get a niche there, they feel it is unfair that some undertakers are able to monopolise the situation. Many people have told me that it is impossible for them to go back to the original position in the queue. But for staff of the undertakers, they are
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manpower to maintain new lists, to conduct frequent ballots and to inform applicants of the results.
There will also be complications in the Regional Services Department if the suggested method is not adopted throughout Hong Kong. Taking into account the small number of surrendered niches and the large number of cremations carried out in Council venues, it is not feasible to allocate niches by prior registration.
Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, regarding the first-come-first-served method for allocation of newly surrendered niches, I would like to ask when do the applicants have to queue up after the information is posted outside the shroff office? I want to know whether we have adequate staff to monitor the queuing up process and what are the rules involved? Are people not allowed to leave the queue in between?
Mr. Joseph Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese):—The scenario of concern to Ms. AU only occurs at the Diamond Hill Crematorium because the number of available niches is really too small. At the present moment, we only have 52. Some people, when they emigrate, may remove the ashes and so some niches may be vacated. But the USD never can tell when such vacancies will occur. Therefore every month, we put up a notice to inform potential applicants. If applicants insist on having a place there, then they have to queue up. There are in fact 18 000 niches in Cape Collinson Columbarium but people are not interested in niches in Cape Collinson Columbarium. If they go there, they don't have to queue up. They can get their places immediately. If they insist on having a niche in Diamond Hill Crematorium, then they must queue up. This is unavoidable as it is allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. People at the back of the queue may not succeed in getting a niche. If they still want a niche there, they have to queue up again. Maybe we can publicise the arrangements and advise potential applicants to consider Cape Collinson Crematorium instead of Diamond Hill Crematorium, because Diamond Hill Crematorium has too few niches available. If they are willing to go to Cape Collinson Crematorium, there is no problem at all.
As far as queuing is concerned, I don't think we have staff to control the crowd in the queue. People queuing outside the office is outside our control and we may need the assistance of the police if there is any disorderly conduct. Since it is a matter of preference, I am afraid applicants will have to encounter some sort of difficulties.
Ms. Grace Au YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):—I don't think Mr. CHAN has answered my question. I asked him about the situation in Diamond Hill Crematorium. Many people are interested in Diamond Hill Crematorium and they want to get a niche there, they feel it is unfair that some undertakers are able to monopolise the situation. Many people have told me that it is impossible for them to go back to the original position in the queue. But for staff of the undertakers, they are
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