Chung Yeung Festival is approaching, and it is expected that a large number of grave sweepers will visit Tsang Tsui Columbarium (the Columbarium) 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 Chung Yeung Festival and avoid grave sweeping during the peak period on the day of the Chung Yeung Festival (11 October 2024) so as to avoid overcrowding.

1) Special Traffic and Transport Arrangements

The section of Nim Wan Road between Yung Long Road and Tsang Tsui Columbarium access road will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. daily on 21, 22, 28 and 29 September, 1, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 19 and 20 October 2024, except for the access of the following vehicles:

The FEHD has introduced a vehicle booking mechanism to maintain order and ensure smooth traffic flow in the Columbarium.  All vehicles except the authorised ones (e.g. public transport vehicles, government vehicles, etc.) must make advance booking via the booking system of the FEHD's website, otherwise they will not be allowed to enter the Columbarium.  Members of the public can make advance booking for driving to the Columbarium to pay tribute to the deceased via the booking system 1 to 14 days prior to their planned visits.  The parking spaces will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.  In view of the heavy traffic in the vicinity of the Columbarium before and after the abovementioned road closure period, the FEHD appeals to members of the public to use public transport to the Columbarium to pay respects. Vehicles without advance bookings will not be permitted to enter the Columbarium.

2) Queueing Arrangements for Joss Paper burners (JPBs)

A longer queueing time for burning paper offerings in joss paper burners is expected in the coming festive period. To save time for physical queueing, no walk-in queue for JPBs will be allowed in the Columbarium during the peak period of the Chung Yeung Festival, i.e. on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 14 September 2024 to 27 October 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:  

  1. Online Booking System

    The online system will start to accept bookings from the public from 6 September 2024. Members of the public can make advance booking of the designated JPBs on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 14 September 2024 to 27 October 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 Queuing Zone" 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.
  2. Obtaining Queue Ticket On-site

    If no prior online booking has been made, JPB users are required to obtain a same-day queue ticket for "Ordinary JPB Queue" 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 "Ordinary JPB Queue" on 1/F of the Columbarium.

  3. Queue for Single Paper Offering (Only applicable on 5, 6, and 11 to 13 October 2024)

    A trial of a new queueing arrangement for JPBs will be implemented at the Columbarium on 5, 6, and 11 to 13 October 2024.  In addition to the ordinary JPB queue, a "Queue for Single Paper Offering" will be set up exclusively for individuals holding one package of joss papers for burning. JPB users are required to obtain a same-day queue ticket for "Queue for Single Paper Offering" 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 "Queue for Single Paper Offering" 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)

  4. Burning Service of Joss Papers

    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. FEHD staff will assist to burn the paper offerings on the same day. The service users do not need to wait on-site, allowing them to travel flexibly.

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.

Cemeteries and Crematoria Section
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

29 August 2024