Allocation of extendable niche
Tsang Tsui Columbarium and Wong Nai Chung Road Columbarium

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will allocate about 21,235 extendable niches, i.e. 20,380 niches in Tsang Tsui Columbarium (including 220 non-smoke-free large niches and 20,160 standard niches [13,080 non-smoke-free niches and 7,080 smoke-free niches] and all 855 smoke-free niches in Wong Nai Chung Road Columbarium starting from May 2019.  (About 163,000 extendable niches in Tsang Tsui Columbarium will be allocated by eight phases. The above-mentioned 20,380 niches refer to first phase only.)  The application period and details are as follows :

Video : Introduction of Tsang Tsui Columbarium

Special traffic arrangements for Tsang Tsui Columbarium during grave sweeping periods

Means of Application

Application form

From 15 May 2019 to 14 June 2019, application form was available for download from FEHD website and collection in specified locations, including Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, District Environmental Hygiene Offices of FEHD, Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of Home Affairs Department, Post Offices at Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, Mui Wo, Peng Chau and Tai O, or by fax via hotline 2841 9111.

Applicants should read Application and Allocation for niches, Notes for Application and Notes for Deposit of Ashes carefully before completing the application form so as to understand the new allocation arrangements for extendable niches.

Video : How to fill in application form

Video : Introduction of extendable niches

Publicity Poster on Allocation of New Public Niches

Publicity Leaflet on Allocation of New Public Niches

Submission of Application

The completed application form together with the following documents should be submitted within the application period through the following means:

1. Putting the application form into the drop-in box at the Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office during office hours;
2. The applicant holding “Permit to Take Away Cremated Ashes” or “Certificate of Cremation” of the deceased may fill in the online application form, upload the required documents in pdf or jpeg format and submit the application online.
   
3. By email (apply_newniche@fehd.gov.hk);
4. By fax (2333 1716); or
5. By post to the Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office.

Applications which are not supported with all required documents or information, or late or duplicated applications will not be accepted.

Eligibility for applying public niche

The cremated ashes of the following persons may be deposited in the columbaria of FEHD:

1. a person who was a resident of Hong Kong at the time of his/her death and whose remains were cremated in a government crematorium within three months after his/her death#; or
2. a person who was a resident of Hong Kong for a period of at least ten years during the period of twenty years immediately preceding his/her death and whose remains were cremated in a crematorium outside Hong Kong (Relevant documentary proof are required) #; or
3. a person whose remains were lawfully exhumed and cremated in a government crematorium.

#   A copy of the relevant documents must be submitted with the application and the originals should be produced for inspection at the time of allocation.

Documents required for applying for a niche

1. Copy of the applicant's Hong Kong Identity Card;
2. Copy of each deceased person's Hong Kong Identity Card or other documentary proof of the deceased's Hong Kong resident status;
3. Copy of the “Permit to Take Away Cremated Ashes” [This is not applicable to those ashes still being kept in Government crematoria.] or “Certificate of Cremation” or “Permit to Remove/Exhume Remains” of each deceased person.

If the niche is for depositing more than one deceased person's ashes, copies of the documentary proof (such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) showing that the first deposited deceased person and the other deceased are close relatives or in close relationship. (Close relative means the spouse, parent, grandparent, grandparent-in-law, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law or a direct descendant of either the male or female line.)  In the absence of documentary proof for close relatives or close relationship, the applicant may take an oath at the office below:

• Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office ( 1J Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong (Near Hong Kong Cemetery) ; or
• Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office (Upper Ground Floor, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon) ; or
• Public Niche Allocation Office (Upper Ground Floor, Block B, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon.)

The new allocation arrangements for niche

1. All available public niches for this allocation exercise are extendable niches. The initial interment period is 20 years and may be extended at 10-year intervals thereafter upon payment of the prevailing prescribed fee. The applicant has to provide the personal particulars of the related persons (i.e. the niche allocatee (i.e. the applicant) and nominated representatives (if any)) to FEHD for contact on matters relating to extension/handling of ashes after expiry of the interment period. If there are any changes of nominated representatives or the contact details, the related persons should inform FEHD accordingly. The onus is on the niche allocatee to handle the ashes of the deceased (i.e. either apply for extension or remove the ashes from the niche) after expiry of the 20-year initial interment period (or 10-year extension period thereafter) and to update FEHD on contact details from time to time.
2. All niches, irrespective of their level and orientation on a niche wall, will be allocated to successful applicants by drawing of lots and computer balloting rather than self-chosen.
3. To look after those failed in the last allocation exercise (i.e. applications that had not been invited for allocation) and to encourage co-location of ashes, these two categories of applications (i.e. those failed in the last niche allocation exercise for Kiu Tau Road Columbarium completed in March 2016 but does not include the case where an applicant was invited for allocation but eventually gave up on his/her own accord or opt for co-location of ashes), if satisfying the criteria for the respective category will be given an additional “ballot paper” under that category to enhance the chance of successful balloting. (However, only one additional “ballot paper” at most will be issued to each of the above two categories in one application.)

Processing application

1. After the application form and supporting documents have passed the preliminary check, FEHD will issue an acknowledgement receipt together with an application number to the applicant by post, fax or email (depending on the means of submission of the application). If the applicant does not receive an acknowledgement receipt 10 calendar days after submitting the application, he / she may call the hotline 2841 9111 for enquiries.
2. FEHD will announce the time of drawing of lots and computer balloting (Details) in due course after close of the application period to determine the successful applicants' priorities in niche allocation and the designated niche allotted to them.
3. The ballot result will be posted in Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office and Public Niche Allocation Office of FEHD and uploaded on FEHD website. FEHD will also notify the successful applicants of the ballot result by SMS and email. Applicants can also call the hotline 2841 9111 for enquiries.
4. After drawing of lots and computer balloting, each successful application will be allotted a priority number drawn by computer balloting and a designated niche. FEHD will inform the successful applicants of the date and time of completing the allocation formalities and paying the relevant fees by letter according to their priorities at the Public Niche Allocation Office (address: Upper Ground Floor, Block B, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom).  To expedite the niche allocation process, payment by cash is not accepted.  The applicant can settle payment by “EPS”, cheque or cashier order and complete the transaction over the allocation counter without the need to queue up waiting for payment at the shroff office in Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office around the corner (address: Upper Ground Floor, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom).  For cheque and cashier order payment, they must be made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” and the cheque must be crossed.
5. If a successful applicant does not take up the assigned niche, his / her application will be considered to have been processed. FEHD will invite applicants who have not been allocated a niche to allocate the remaining niches in accordance with their priorities after further matching.

Other Points to Note

1. The application procedure is simple. An applicant is only required to complete an application form and submit it together with copies of the above documents. There is no need to entrust other persons / organisations to make an application on his / her behalf.
2. No fee is charged for making an application.
3. FEHD has not entrusted any organisations / persons to receive / process applications or assist in the submission of applications. No one should enjoy any convenience or privilege.
4. The fees for an extendable standard niche at Tsang Tsui Columbarium and Wong Nai Chung Road Columbarium for the initial 20-year interment period is $2,400 and permission for placing a memorial plaque is $90. The fees for an extendable large niche at Tsang Tsui Columbarium for the initial 20-year interment period is $3,000 and permission for placing a memorial plaque is $90. The administration fee for placing an additional set of ashes is $140 thereafter.
5. For application for a standard niche, the applicant has to fill in at least one deceased person's particulars in the application form.  For application for a large niche, the applicant has to fill in at least three deceased persons' particulars in the application form. The other deceased persons listed in the application form should be a close relative of or in close relationship with the first deceased person.  The niche should be returned to FEHD if the cremated ashes of the first deceased person deposited in that niche have been removed.
6. Please note that the number and type of niches (standard/large; smoke-free/non-smoke-free) available for allocation in the two columbaria are different, and the chance of successful allocation would also vary.  When deciding the type of niche to be selected for application, applicant may make reference to Particulars of Niches under Application in Section A of the application form to assess the chance of a successful allocation.
7. If the name of the deceased person on an application form for a new niche is already on the waiting list for reused niche, FEHD will delete the name of the deceased from the waiting list for reused niche upon successful allocation of a new niche at Tsang Tsui Columbarium or Wong Nai Chung Road Columbarium.  Furthermore, if the cremated ashes of the concerned deceased have already been deposited in another public niche, the applicant should return that niche to FEHD after the concerned ashes have been deposited in the new niche.
8. FEHD reminds the public that when applying for a public niche for a deceased relative, the applicant should handle the matter in person.  If the applicant has no time to deal with the application in person, he/she should still fill in the application form in his/her name and authorise others to follow up.  This is to ensure that FEHD can keep in touch with the applicant (i.e. the niche allocatee) direct on matters relating to extension of the interment period so that the niche allocatee can take good care of the interests of the deceased person(s).

Information on Cemeteries and Crematoria Offices of FEHD

Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
Address: 1J Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Tel. No.: 2570 4318
Fax No.: 2591 1879

Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
Address: Upper Ground Floor, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon
Tel. No.: 2365 5321
Fax No.: 2176 4963

Public Niche Allocation Office
Address: Upper Ground Floor, Block B, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon
Tel. No.: 2330 5635
Fax No.: 2333 1716

Office Hours :

Mondays to Fridays :      9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays :     9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon(except Public Niche Allocation Office)
Sundays and Public Holidays : Closed

Enquiries

Enquiry hotline:  2841 9111
Enquiry email: enquiry_newniche@fehd.gov.hk

FAQ

Subscription for New Niche Allocation Announcement in 2020

Download Application Form

Application Status

Layout and Elevation Plans of Niches Available for Allocation

Niche Location Enquiry

Application Result Enquiry

Full record of drawing of lots and computer random balloting

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