ENG-1976 — Page 129

HEALTH

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Swimming is one of the most popular pastimes in Hong Kong and there are 25 gazetted beaches in the New Territories managed by the Urban Services Depart- ment. During the year Butterfly Beach and Pui O Beach were provided with life- saving and first-aid services, and another two beaches at Cheung Sha are to have similar services.

Cemeteries and Crematoria

There are five public cemeteries, one public crematorium and eight private cemeteries in the New Territories; and six public cemeteries, two public crematoria and 19 private cemeteries in the urban areas.

The Urban Council operates two funeral depots which provide inexpensive funeral services, while the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals also provides facilities for funeral services on a non-profit-making basis. Construction of a new funeral depot was started in June, to replace the one at Hung Hom.

There has been a steady increase in cremation as a method of disposal of the dead, and approximately 35 per cent of all dead bodies are now disposed of by cremation. This trend is officially encouraged; a new twin cremator has recently been provided for the Cape Collinson crematorium, and plans are well advanced for the building of a new crematorium in Kowloon and another one at Kwai Chung in the New Territories.

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