Ching Ming Festival is approaching, and it is expected that a large number of grave sweepers will visit Tsang Tsui Columbarium and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium (the Columbaria) with joss papers and offerings to pay tribute to their ancestors during the festive period. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) appeals to members of the public to consider staggering grave-sweeping activities over a wider period before and after the Ching Ming Festival and avoid grave sweeping during the peak period on the day of the Ching Ming Festival (4 April 2024) so as to avoid overcrowding.
A longer queueing time for burning paper offerings in joss paper burners (JPBs) is expected in the coming festive period. To save time for queueing, no walk-in queue for JPBs will be allowed in the Columbaria during the peak period of the Ching Ming Festival, i.e. on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 2 March 2024 to 14 April 2024. All JPB users must make advance booking via the FEHD's website (applicable for Tsang Tsui Columbarium only) OR obtain queue tickets on site for the use of JPBs. Details of the arrangement are as follows:
- Online Booking System (applicable for Tsang Tsui Columbarium only)
The online system will start to accept bookings from the public from 23 February 2014. Members of the public can make advance booking of the designated JPBs on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 2 March 2024 to 14 April 2024 through the "Online Booking System for Joss Paper Burners in Tsang Tsui Columbarium" on the FEHD's website. The timeslots are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Members of public with advance booking should show the QR code in the SMS to the venue staff before entering to the "JPB Queue" on 1/F of the Tsang Tsui Columbarium at the reserved timeslot. Each mobile phone number can make only one booking on the same day and the booking is valid only at the reserved timeslot. The visitors are advised to cancel their booking if they could not turn up on the scheduled date and time. - Obtaining Queue Ticket On-site
If no prior online booking has been made, JPB users are required to obtain a same-day queue ticket from the ticketing machines installed on G/F of the Columbarium. Holders of a valid queue ticket with number being called should show the physical tickets (photocopies, screenshots or other means are not acceptable) to the venue staff before entering to the "JPB Queue" on 1/F of the Columbarium. All same-day queue tickets must be used within the designated time period, and overdue booking will not be entertained. Ticket holders can visit the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/en) or the on-site display kiosks to check the real-time queueing ticket status. You may also click the following links for the details.
Tsang Tsui Columbarium
Real-time queueing ticket status
Take a Queue Ticket before Burning Paper Offerings (Only Traditional Chinese version is available)Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium
Real-time queueing ticket status
Take a Queue Ticket before Burning Paper Offerings (Only Traditional Chinese version is available)
For visitors without prior booking or unable to use the JPBs at the designated time period, they could put the paper offerings at the "Joss Paper Collection Area" near the East Wing of 1/F of Tsang Tsui Columbarium OR 1/F of Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium. FEHD staff will assist to burn them on the same day.
Furthermore, during the Ching Ming Festival, a Green Burial Exhibition will be held by FEHD at the covered area next to the Water Pool on the G/F of Tsang Tsui Columbarium. All are welcome to visit free of charge without prior registration. Throughout the exhibition period, a non-profit organisation will set up a food kiosk, allowing visitors to appreciate the exhibits while enjoying delicious food and beverages.
Burning of paper offerings and incense is a traditional culture in paying tribute to the deceased, however, it could emit various kinds of air pollutants which may be hazardous to human health and pollute the environment. FEHD encourages grave-sweepers to adopt more environmentally friendly ways to pay respects to their ancestors such as flowers instead of burning joss papers and incense. Paying a sincere and heartfelt tribute is the key of ancestor worship. Relatives can consider paying tribute to their ancestors by observing a moment of silence, expressing thoughts in writing, or offering flowers, as an alternative to joss paper burning. These will help preserve the cleanliness and serenity of the resting places.
To facilitate the public to pay respects and show condolences to their lost loved ones at any time, and from anywhere, FEHD also provides a free memorial website "memorial.gov.hk" (http://www.memorial.gov.hk) and its mobile app for the public.
For enquiries, please contact staff of Tsang Tsui Columbarium at 2713 1077 or staff of Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium at 2817 6162 / 2515 3777.
Cemeteries and Crematoria Section
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
19 February 2024