The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (November 15) that it will continue to accept applications for the new extendable public niches at Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun all year round and allocate the niches on a monthly basis from December 1 until further notice.

An FEHD spokesman said, "Depending on the number of applications received, the FEHD will allocate around 1 700 smoke-free and non-smoke-free standard niches and 20 non-smoke-free large niches at Tsang Tsui Columbarium per month." Applicants should only file one application form to apply for either a large niche or standard niche for the same deceased person. When applying for a large niche, the applicant has to fill in at least three deceased persons' particulars in the application form. For applying for a standard niche, the applicant has to fill in at least one deceased person's particulars.

"When deciding the type of niche, applicants should make reference to the relevant information in the dedicated application webpage in the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk)," the spokesman added. Application forms can be downloaded from the FEHD website or obtained from the department's Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, District Environmental Hygiene Offices, and Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of Home Affairs Department.

The completed application form together with copies of the required documents could be submitted by fax (2333 1716), email (apply_newniche@fehd.gov.hk), by post or in person to the FEHD Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office. Besides, the FEHD also advised applicants to fill in and submit application forms online so as to avoid postal delays or non-delivery.

On the twentieth of each month (if it is a Saturday or public holiday, it will be postponed to the next working day), the FEHD will conduct the drawing of lots and computer balloting for eligible applications received in the previous month to determine the successful applicants and the designated niches allocated to them. The successful applicants will be notified by SMS and email or post of the serial number of the designated niche allocated. Applicants can also check the results of their applications at the FEHD website immediately after the drawing of lots and computer balloting, or on the next day at Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, Public Niche Allocation Office or through the enquiry hotline 2841 9111.

For details of the arrangement of this niche allocation exercise, please visit the FEHD website, or call 2841 9111 or email to enquiry_newniche@fehd.gov.hk. Information on the Cemeteries and Crematoria Offices and Public Niche Allocation Office of the FEHD is as follows:

Hong Kong Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
Address: 1J Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Tel: 2570 4318
Fax: 2591 1879

Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office
Address: Upper Ground Floor, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon
Tel: 2365 5321
Fax: 2176 4963

Public Niche Allocation Office
Address: Units 3501-3511 & 3520-3525, 35/F, Tower 1, Metroplaza, 223 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Fong, N.T.
Tel：2330 5635
Fax：2333 1716