Hung Hom · Complete Funeral Services · FEHD-Licensed Undertaker

Columbaria and Cemeteries | Public, BMCPC and Private Options

Assistance with private niches and cemetery plots, and help with government procedures. Free transport for viewings in a luxury seven-seater vehicle, with professional advice.

Where Should Ashes Be Placed? Four Main Options

After cremation and collection of the Permit to Take Away Cremated Ashes (FEHB 153, commonly called the ‘ashes permit’), the next decision is where the ashes or skeletal remains will ultimately be placed. Hong Kong has four main options: FEHD public niches, niches in Chinese Permanent Cemeteries managed by the BMCPC, licensed private columbaria, and green burial through scattering ashes. Choosing burial instead involves a grave in a public or private cemetery, with attention to the six-year exhumation requirement.

Our company represents various private and government columbarium niches and cemeteries. Please call us for enquiries. In addition to enjoying special discounts, we have a professional team to provide free luxury 7-person car transportation and provide professional advice. The following is a compilation of the latest tolls, application timetables, qualifications and document requirements for each road, all based on information published by the government and BMCPC.

Compare the four major options at a glance

Sources: Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (BMCPC), Regulation of Private Columbaria Special Website. Fees and arrangements may be revised from time to time, please refer to the latest official announcement.
OptionsCharges (first term)termArrangementMain limitations
FEHD public niche (standard)$2,400 + monument $90First 20 years, renewable every 10 years thereafter (renewal $1,200)Monthly lottery and computer random drawingThe location cannot be chosen; the deceased must meet the conditions of residence in Hong Kong and cremation
FEHD public niche (large)$3,000+Monument $90First 20 years, renewal every 10 years $1,500Monthly lottery and computer random drawingThe application form must fill in no less than three digits of the deceased’s information.
BMCPC renewable common niche$4,000First 20 years, renewal every 10 years $2,000Register for lottery allocationthe deceased must reside permanently in Hong Kong and be of Chinese descent (or his/her spouse/child)
BMCPC renewable family niche$16,000First 20 years, renewal every 10 years $8,000Register for lottery allocationAdditional ashes cost $300 each; must be placed within three months from the subscription date
Licensed private columbariumRanging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on location and specificationsDepends on contract (permanent/term tenancy)Free to choose a seat, ready to useMust verify licence holding; pay attention to closure risks and contract terms
Spreading ashes in memorial gardenFree (additional administrative fees apply for setting up commemorative plaques)Not applicableAppointment Application (FEHB 219)Cannot be retrieved after being released
scattering ashes on the seaFree (the government provides free ferries)Not applicableAppointment Application (FEHB 198)Limited to three designated sea areas; cannot be retrieved after release
Burial in public cemeteryAdult $3,190/Child $2,605Must be exhumed after six yearsOn-site arrangement on the day of burialExhumation of remains is required after six years
burial urn (exhumed remains burial)$6,305 per exhumed remains or ashes—Apply for allocationThe exhumation process must be completed first

To put it simply: If you have the lowest budget and are not in a hurry , go for a public niche or green funeral; If you want to accommodate the whole family at once and don’t want to draw lots again , you can consider the BMCPC family niche; If you are in a hurry and want to choose your own seat and direction , you should check it out Private columbarium niche . We can accompany you on all three roads. For details, please refer to Placement of New Ashes Niche .

FEHD public columbarium niche: latest monthly allocation schedule for 2026

In the past, public niches were “recommended once a year, and over 10,000 of them were available at one time.” You had to wait until the application period to submit your application form. The current arrangement has changed: FEHD will accept applications throughout the year starting from August 1, 2026, and will allocate renewable columbarium niches of Wo Hop Shek columbarium Phase 6, Cape Collinson Xinxia columbarium, Shek Mun columbarium and Tsang Tsui columbarium every month until further notice.

Application and lottery timetable

Number of niches allocated each month

columbariumForbidden incense largeNon-banned large sizeBanned incense standardsNon-banned fragrance standards
Wo Hop Shek Issue 6 columbariumabout 3about 3about 50about 50
Cape Collinson columbariumabout 3about 3about 50about 50
Shimen columbarium (total incense ban)about 6—About 420—
Tsang Tsui columbarium—6500 pieces500 pieces

Important mechanism: If the applicant applies for a standard niche but is not allocated to the selected columbarium, the applicant will be allocated to the non-scented/non-scented standard niche of Tsang Tsui columbarium ; if the applicant applies for a large niche but is not allocated to the selected resettlement site, the applicant will be allocated to the non-scented large niche of Tsang Tsui. Therefore, the number of niches launched by Tsang Tsui will be adjusted according to the application status. It should also be noted that Shimen columbarium is completely incense-free and does not have any facilities for burning incense and candle offerings.

Eligibility

The deceased must meet one of the following conditions before ashes can be stored in the columbarium niche under FEHD:

  1. He was a Hong Kong resident at the time of death and his remains were cremated in a government crematorium within three months after death; or
  2. The deceased was a Hong Kong resident for at least 10 of the 20 years immediately before death and was cremated outside Hong Kong, with residence documents and valid legal supporting documents; or
  3. His remains were legally recovered in Hong Kong and then cremated at a government crematorium.

Required documents

  1. A copy of the applicant’s Hong Kong Identity Card;
  2. The Hong Kong Identity Card of each deceased person, or a copy of the document used to prove that the deceased is a Hong Kong resident;
  3. A copy of the " Permit to Take Ashes " for each deceased (this does not apply to ashes still stored in the government crematorium; if the FEHD cremation time has been successfully booked before the end of the application period, you can also submit the "body of the deceased cremation fee receipt" together with the application form first, and resubmit as soon as possible after obtaining the Permit to Take Away Cremated Ashes), or " Cremation Certificate or a copy of Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains .

If you apply for a niche to house two or more deceased ashes, you must submit copies of documents proving the close relative or close relationship between the deceased who is buried together and the first deceased (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate). "Close relative" means a spouse, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, spouse's father, spouse's mother, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, or a direct descendant in the paternal or maternal line. Those who fail to submit a valid certificate can go to Hong Kong Island Cemeteries and Crematoria Office (1J Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley), Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematorium Office (G/F, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom) or Public columbarium niche allocation office (35th Floor, Tower 1, Metropolis Plaza, 223 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Fong) Go through the oath-taking procedures.

FEHD clearly reminds you that applications with incomplete documents, incomplete information, late or repeated submissions will not be accepted. There is no fee to pay when submitting the application. If you have not received a confirmation reply slip with the application number ten calendar days after submitting your application, you should call 2841 9111 for enquiry.

Submission method

Charges and payments

Renewable standard columbarium niche for the first 20 years $2,400 , monument permission $90 ; renewable large columbarium niche for the first 20 years $3,000 , monument permission $90 ; then add the deceased ashes $140 per person . When handling the allocation procedure, you can pay by "EPS", "FPS", check or cashier's order; if you pay by check or cashier's check, the face amount is $2,490 (standard niche) or $3,090 (large niche). The payment must be made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region", and the check must be crossed. Winning applicants who meet specific approval qualifications through online application can use the "Single Portal with Token for Online Services and Payment" to complete the procedure.

Lottery rules and duplicate application restrictions

Please note: FEHD pointed out that the application procedure is simple. Applicants only need to fill in the form together with copies of documents and submit it by themselves. There is no need to entrust other persons or institutions to handle the application ; FEHD has not entrusted any institution or person to receive or process applications on its behalf, and no one will enjoy any convenience or privilege. In the public niche, Tim Fat Funeral only assists families in checking eligibility, organising documents and explaining the process. We do not and cannot provide any "expedited" or "in-house" channels. If someone claims to be able to "fix" a government niche for you, please be wary.

BMCPC Niche Allocation

Since the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (Amendment) Rules 2025 came into effect, BMCPC has provided both renewable columbarium niche and non-renewable columbarium niche in the new niche project for the public to choose from. The renewable niches are divided into ordinary and family categories, and the size specifications are similar to the non-renewable niches.

Around 72,400 new niches in Section A39 (outdoor) and Shung Hau Hall (indoor) at Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery are being allocated in phases. All niches in this area are smoke-free, and burning incense, candles or paper offerings is prohibited there.

The 2026 Niche Allocation Timetable

PeriodCategoryQuantity (approx.)Subscription feeApplication periodStatus
Issue 1Open air renewable general niche8,676$4,000CompletedAllotment completed
Second issueOpen air renewable family niche (paragraph A39)8,775$16,000June 15 to July 17, 2026Lots have been drawn on August 11, 2026, the results will be announced on August 12, and placement will begin on September 7
The third issueShung Hau Hall (1st and 2nd floors) renewable family nicheabout 12,000$16,000 From 9:00 am on October 5, 2026 (Monday) to 6:00 pm on November 6 (Friday) The lottery will be held at 2:30 pm on December 1, 2026; allotment will begin on December 31, 2026

Applications in progress: Online applications for Phase 3 family niches at Shung Hau Hall open on 5 October 2026. Details and guidance will be published on BMCPC’s website that day. The cremation document must show that the deceased was cremated on or before 6 November 2026. Allocation is not first come, first served; it is determined by computer ballot, so there is no need to rush to apply on the first day. For help preparing documents, contact us.

Charges and term

Eligibility for Interment

Initial interment is restricted to eligible deceased persons: people of Chinese descent who were permanently resident in Hong Kong, or their spouses or children. Under section 3 of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries Rules (Cap. 1112A), permanent residence means, for the purposes of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115), continuous residence in Hong Kong for at least seven years, or the right to land and remain in Hong Kong without conditions of stay. A person subsequently interred must be related to the first deceased person in the niche. Qualifying relationships include a spouse; parents, grandparents and great-grandparents on either side, including those of the spouse; siblings, including half-siblings, and their spouses; and the descendants of any such person, including children born outside marriage, adopted children and stepchildren, or their spouses.

Application documents and procedures

  1. Submit the online application via the BMCPC website during the application period, and upload: (a) the documents proving the deceased’s permanent residence in Hong Kong during his lifetime (such as the Hong Kong permanent identity card); and (b) the documents proving the deceased’s cremation (if cremated in Hong Kong, he or she “received an ashes permit”), or the document proving the ashes of the deceased issued by the deceased’s current storage location. The content of the document must be in Chinese or English, otherwise it must be translated, signed and stamped by a translation company.
  2. The registration application is based on the deceased . Once submitted, the deceased cannot be replaced; only one application is accepted for each deceased in each period. There is no fee to pay when submitting your application.
  3. BMCPC will send a confirmation receipt via email within 21 working days after the review, including the deceased Huayong number, which will be used to randomly allocate the subscription order and niche by computer.
  4. The lottery results will be announced on the BMCPC website at 2 pm the day after the lottery is drawn, and all applicants will be notified by mail. There is no backup . The application for the current period will be invalid for the unsuccessful candidate, but they can register for the next period.
  5. Successful applicants attend the sales office in their allocated order, present original documents and pay the purchase fee. Payment may be made by FPS, cashier’s order or a crossed cheque payable that day to the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries, or by cash deposited at the designated bank, with the original deposit slip returned to the office.
  6. Payment by cashier’s order, cash or FPS permits an interment appointment from 48 hours later; cheque payment permits one from three working days later. Ashes must be placed within the three-month validity period starting on the purchase date, with no extension. Otherwise, BMCPC may cancel the permit and reclaim the niche.

BMCPC Placement Office : 34th Floor, Wu Chung Building, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, inquiry hotline 2511 1116, office hours are 9:00 am to 12:30 am and 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday (closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays). The telephone number of Tseung Kwan O Cemetery is 2340 3385. The cemetery is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm every day. The columbarium and offices are from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm every day. They are closed from the first to third day of the Lunar New Year. BMCPC likewise has not entrusted any organisation or person to receive or process applications on its behalf.

Practical reminder: BMCPC recommends that applicants go to the cemetery to inspect the assigned open-air niche and environment before going through the subscription procedures; it is also strongly recommended that the certificate holder be the first relative to bury the deceased, and coordinate with all legal heirs and family members in advance to avoid disputes in the future. There is a daily quota for the placement project. The quota may be suspended or reduced during the Qingming Festival and Double Ninth Festival. It is recommended to make an appointment as early as possible.

Licensed Private Columbaria: Choosing and Checking

The biggest advantages of private niches are that there is no need to draw lots, you can choose your own seat and the same direction, and the worship time is flexible . Some also have indoor air-conditioning, valet services and other services. But the price is much higher, and legality must be verified.

Licensing System under the Private Columbaria Ordinance (Chapter 630)

The government established a licensing system through Chapter 630. Persons who are operating or intending to operate a private columbarium must obtain specified instrument - that is, licence, exemption or temporary suspension of liability - before operating. The businesses permitted by the three are not the same:

CategoryAvailability for sale/new rental nicheCan new ashes be placed?Description
Licence plate OKOKOnly licensees can sell or newly lease niches and can operate them normally
Waiver NoThere are restrictionsCan be operated normally; ashes that have been placed before the "cut-off time" can continue to be stored; niches that have been purchased before the cut-off time but have not exercised or only partially exercised the placement rights can be placed during the validity period of the exemption (the name of the recipient must be recorded in the relevant register)
Temporary exemption from legal liability NoNoFor general operation only

" Cutoff Time " means at 8:00 a.m. on June 18, 2014 . If the public wants to check whether a private columbarium has a licence, exemption or temporary suspension of liability, they can visit the " Register of Private Columbaria " on the "Regulation of Private Columbaria" thematic website www.rpc.gov.hk ”; you can also check the “List of Applications for Specified Instruments Received by the Licensing Board” to find out whether a certain property has submitted an application.

Penalties are severe: unlawfully operating a private columbarium or improperly disposing of ashes carries a maximum fine of $2 million and three years’ imprisonment on summary conviction, or $5 million and seven years’ imprisonment on conviction on indictment. Being listed in Part A of the Development Bureau’s ‘Information on Private Columbaria’ does not mean that the premises will necessarily be granted a licence.

Consumer protection: 14-day cooling-off period and trust funds

Six questions you must ask before buying a private niche

  1. The premises is listed in the rpc.gov.hk register with the licence and the exemption letter provides temporary suspension of liability? (Only licensed persons can sell legally)
  2. Is the niche I purchased within the approved plan ?
  3. The contract states permanent placement rights and fixed-term tenancy ? Are the renewal conditions the same as the fee points?
  4. If the columbarium closes in the future, what will happen to the ashes? What do the compensation terms say? Is there a trust fund arrangement?
  5. How much are the management fees, hosting fees, additional storage fees, cleaning and worship service fees charged? Are there any annual adjustments?
  6. Is there 14-day cooling-off period provision? What are the refund conditions?

We act as an agent for a number of licensed private columbarium and cemetery projects, and can arrange free luxury 7-passenger car to pick up family members for on-site viewing, compare seat orientation, floors, lighting, transportation and management levels one by one, and assist in checking the licence status. See private columbarium niche (special discount) for details.

Cemeteries, public cemeteries and burial urns

Families who choose to be buried must clearly understand Hong Kong’s “ six-year exhumation ” regulations—cemeteries in public cemeteries are not permanent.

Burial in public cemetery

Public cemeteries managed by FEHD that have plots for burial applications include Wo Hop Shek Cemetery (Ming Yin Road, Fanling, Tel. 2675 5296), Cheung Chau Cemetery, Tai O Cemetery and Mui Wo Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery. The latter three are only available to original residents of the Islands District or real residents who have long lived there and their minor children, and must submit certification documents from the Rural Committee. The applicant or the hired licensed undertaker must make an appointment with the cemetery office in advance for the burial date, and bring the completed "Application for Burial in a Public Cemetery" form ( FEHB 144 ) and the original copy of Form 10 (Certificate of Registration of Death for burial) or Form 11 on the day of burial. FEHD will allocate a coffin burial cemetery for qualified applicants on the day of application. The fee is for adult burial $3,190 and for child burial $2,605 .

Private Cemetery and BMCPC Burial Plots

There are two types of private cemeteries: permanent and timely exhumation. For fees and application details, please contact the individual cemetery management agency directly. Operated by the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (BMCPC) include Aberdeen, Cape Collinson, Tsuen Wan and Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (enquiry 2511 1116); there are also cemeteries operated by religious or other groups, such as Happy Valley Catholic Cemetery, Pok Fu Lam Road Chinese Christian Cemetery, Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Cemetery, Castle Peak Christian Cemetery, Tao Fong Shan Christian Cemetery, etc.

Exhumation after Six Years: The Procedure

  1. Apply for a Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains

    Fill in FEHB 148 , together with documents proving the relationship with the deceased, to FEHD Hong Kong Island (1J Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley) or Kowloon (Hung Hom The Cemeteries and Crematoria Office, No. 6 Cheong Hang Road, G/F, applies for a "Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains" (FEH(L) 86A). The fee is $120 (replacement $140).

  2. Arrange exhumation for a registered masonry contractor

    Exhumation of remains must be carried out by a masonry contractor registered with FEHD under the supervision of FEHD staff, otherwise FEHD reserves the right to refuse to provide cremation services or issue a relocation permit for the exhumed remains picked up. Upon completion, an "Authorization Letter for Recovering exhumed remains" ( FEHB 150 ) will be issued.

  3. Decide Where the Skeletal Remains Will Be Placed

    Options include cremation of skeletal remains (FEHB 263, HK$90, at Wo Hop Shek or Cheung Chau Crematorium), followed by a niche application, placement in an existing niche or scattering; reburial in a public cemetery urn grave (FEHB 262, HK$6,305 per set of remains or ashes); or reburial in an urn grave or ossuary at a private cemetery.

Consequences of overdue exhumation: If the deceased has not been exhumed by the expiration of the time limit, FEHD will publish an announcement in the gazette and newspapers and send a letter to notify the deceased within the specified time limit. If the deceased is exhumed within the specified time limit, FEHD will exhume and cremate the ashes on his behalf, and bury the ashes in Sandy Ridge Cemetery . We can handle a full set of exhumation, exhumed remains, cremation, burial urn and cemetery applications. For details, please see exhumation. Cemetery .

Green burial: memorial gardens and scattering ashes at sea

For families who prefer a simple, natural arrangement without leaving descendants responsible for renewals and maintenance, green burial without a gravestone is increasingly popular. FEHD currently has 14 Gardens of Remembrance, including New Cape Collinson, New Diamond Hill, Fu Shan, New Kwai Chung, New Wo Hop Shek, Tsang Tsui, Cheung Chau, Lamma Island and Peng Chau.

Please think twice before scattering ashes: Once ashes are scattered, they cannot be retrieved, and the family will not have a fixed place to worship in the future. It is recommended to fully discuss with all immediate family members first, or consider a compromise approach of "spreading some ashes and retaining some". We can help arrange the ceremony, flowers and transportation on the day of the ashes scattering.

ashes temporary storage and placement at home

If the niche has not yet been drawn, or the family has not reached a consensus, ashes do not have to decide immediately where to go.

For specifications of urns, urns and related supplies, please refer to Material List .

Interment of Ashes and the Accompanying Ceremony

"Upper position" means to formally place the deceased ashes into the niche. Traditionally, the Chinese will choose a day to set the throne and hold simple ceremonies according to family beliefs:

For details of the ceremony and arrangements by the master, please refer to various religious ceremonies and one-stop service Taoism. Buddhist ritual . We can also arrange flowers, offerings, transportation and photography on the day of enthronement.

Our services

Four major supports for niche and cemetery agency

Free special car

Transport for Private Niche Viewings

A free luxury 7-passenger car will take family members to visit multiple licensed private columbaria and cemeteries. They will compare seating orientations, floors, lighting and traffic on-site, and assist in checking the licence status.

Document assistance

Public and BMCPC application assistance

Assist in checking placement qualifications, organising identity certificates and cremation documents, and explaining the lottery and renewal mechanism to avoid rejection due to incomplete documents.

exhumation · burial urn

exhumation, exhumed remains cremation and cemetery

Agent for FEHB 148 relocation or exhumation of remains permits, arrangements for exhumation of registered stone works, cremation and burial of exhumed remains or reburial in private cemeteries.

Cross-border

Transporting Ashes and Skeletal Remains Across Borders

We will provide the cremation certificate, the ashes relocation permit and the documents required by the consulates in various places, and arrange for the ashes to be transported back to the mainland or placed overseas.

green burial

Ashes scattering and memorial garden arrangements

Assist in processing applications for FEHB 198 ashes scattering at sea and FEHB 219 memorial garden ashes scattering, arrange flowers, ceremony and transportation for family members on the day.

columbarium niche and cemetery FAQs

Here are 23 of the most frequently asked questions by family members. For information about funeral customs, the first seven and the last seven, funeral return gifts condolence money, etc., please see the full version of Frequently Asked Questions ; for the overall funeral process, please see Home Page Process Guide .

How do I now apply for a public niche? Must I still wait for an annual exercise?

No. FEHD will accept applications throughout the year from August 1, 2026, and will be allocated monthly Wo Hop Shek Phase 6, Cape Collinson Xinha, Shek Mun and Tsang Tsui four columbarium renewable niches. The application period is from 9 am on the first day of each month to 5 pm on the last day of the month, and the lottery will be held at 10 am on the 20th of the next month.

How many public niches can be drawn each month?

Approximately: Wo Hop Shek Phase 6 and Cape Collinson each - 3 non-incense large, 3 non-incense large, 50 incense standard, 50 non-incense standard; Shimen - 6 incense large, 420 incense standard; Tsang Tsui - 6 non-incense large, 500 incense standard, 500 non-incense standard. The number of Tsang Tsui will be adjusted based on application status.

How much does a public niche cost, and how long is the interment term?

Standard niche $2,400 for the first 20 years, large niche $3,000 , additional monuments allowed $90, additional ashes $140. Renewable every 10 years after the first 20 years (standard $1,200, large $1,500). When paying by check, the face amount is $2,490 (standard) or $3,090 (large).

What are the qualifications to apply for a public columbarium niche?

The deceased must meet one of these conditions: they were a Hong Kong resident at death and were cremated at a government crematorium within three months; they were a Hong Kong resident for at least 10 of the 20 years immediately before death and were cremated outside Hong Kong; or their remains were lawfully exhumed in Hong Kong and then cremated at a government crematorium.

What documents do I need to submit?

A copy of the applicant’s identity card, a copy of each deceased’s identity card or proof of residence in Hong Kong, and a copy of each deceased’s “permit to collect ashes” or “certificate of cremation” or “permit to move or exhumation of remains”. Multiple members of the deceased family must provide proof of close relatives or close relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.). Those who are unable to provide can go to the designated office to take the oath. Incomplete documents, incomplete information, late or repeated submissions will not be accepted.

Can I choose my own niche location?

No. All niches, regardless of their location or orientation, will be allocated by lottery and computer random drawing . The lottery process will be videotaped and uploaded, and 50 seats have been reserved for the public to witness, and no reservation is required.

Does an unsuccessful application give me an advantage in the next ballot?

Yes. Applications that failed to win the lottery last time (excluding those who gave up after winning the lottery), as well as applications that choose to add ashes, will each receive additional lottery tickets if they meet the criteria, with a maximum of one per application per group.

Can I apply to the same columbarium every month?

After a successful ballot, whether or not the allocation is accepted, no further application for the same deceased person at the same columbarium is accepted for six months. If applications are submitted in consecutive months, the later one is put on hold until the earlier result is known.

How do incense-free and incense-permitted niches differ?

There are no facilities for burning incense and candles in the incense-forbidden area, and flowers and fruits must be used instead. Shimen columbarium is completely incense-free ; Tsang Tsui, Wo Hop Shek Issue 6 and Cape Collinson have both categories. Section A39 of BMCPC Tseung Kwan O and Shung Hau Hall are also prohibited incense areas .

Do I need to pay an agency to apply for a public niche?

No need. FEHD clearly stated that the procedure is simple, can be submitted by oneself, and there is no need to pay when submitting. has not entrusted any organisation or person to handle it , and no one has any privileges. If someone claims to be able to "speed up" or "guarantee", you should be alert.

How do I choose between a large and a standard niche?

Standard niche applicants must fill in no less than one the deceased’s information; large niche applicants must fill in no less than three the deceased’s information, and the other the deceased must be close relatives or closely related to the first the deceased. If you plan to add family ashes in the future, a large niche is more suitable.

Which BMCPC niches are currently being offered?

The third phase of 2026 Shung Hau Hall (first and second floors) renewable family niche approximately 12,000 units, subscription fee $16,000, October 5 to November 6, 2026 Accept online applications, draw lots on December 1, and allotment from December 31. The first phase of the open-air common niche has been sold out, and the second phase of the open-air family niche has been drawn by lottery on August 11 and will be allotted from September 7.

Who is eligible to apply for a BMCPC niche?

The deceased must be a person of Chinese descent who permanently resides in Hong Kong, or his spouse or his children . "Permanent residence in Hong Kong" means continuous residence in Hong Kong for a total of not less than 7 years , or having the right to enter Hong Kong without any restrictions on stay. The deceased who is buried in addition must be a relative of the first deceased.

What are the BMCPC niche purchase and renewal charges?

Renewable ordinary niche $4,000 (renewal $2,000 every 10 years); renewable family niche $16,000 (renewal $8,000 every 10 years). The subscription fee includes the first placement of the deceased, for each additional ashes is $300 , and moving out ashes is free of charge. Only one deceased person can apply for a family niche.

How long can ashes remain in a BMCPC niche?

No renewal is required. The niche can be placed until the building is rebuilt and demolished, the government land grant expires, or the government takes back the land (whichever occurs first). The land grant expiration date for Chai Wan Cemetery is May 17, 2036, and for Tsuen Wan and Tseung Kwan O Cemeteries, it is June 30, 2047.

How soon after purchasing a BMCPC niche must the ashes be interred?

Ashes must be placed within the three-month validity period starting on the purchase date, with no extension. Payment by cashier’s order, cash or FPS allows an appointment from 48 hours later; cheque payment allows one from three working days later. Daily interment quotas apply and may be reduced during Ching Ming and Chung Yeung.

How can I verify that a private columbarium operates legally?

Check the Register of Private Columbaria at www.rpc.gov.hk to establish whether the premises holds a licence (only licensees may sell or newly let niches), an exemption or a temporary suspension of liability. Unlawful operation or improper disposal of ashes is punishable by a maximum fine of HK$5 million and seven years’ imprisonment.

What is the difference between a licence, an exemption, and a temporary suspension of liability?

Licence: niches may be sold and new ashes interred. Exemption: no sale or new letting, although ashes may be placed during its validity in niches purchased before the cut-off time of 8 am on 18 June 2014. Temporary suspension of liability: no niche sales and no new interment of ashes.

Is there a cooling-off period when buying a private niche?

Yes. A licensee’s agreement for the sale of interment rights must be approved by the Licensing Board and give purchasers a 14-day cooling-off period. The Financial Mechanism for Protection of Consumer Interests also requires 15% of receipts from sales of interment rights to be deposited into a dedicated account, with a trust fund established once the balance reaches HK$5 million.

What happens if a private columbarium closes?

The operator must carry out prescribed ashes disposal procedures in accordance with the law, return ashes to qualified persons, and send unclaimed ashes to FEHD. Receivers (owners, mortgagees, liquidators, trustees, etc.) are also required to fulfill this responsibility. Compensation depends on the terms of the sale and purchase agreement, so you must inquire about the closing arrangements before purchasing.

How much does cemetery burial cost, and why is exhumation required after six years?

Burial for adults is $3,190, burial for children is $2,605, burial urn or additional burial is $6,305 for each exhumed remains/ashes. Burials in public cemeteries must be exhumed after six years , which is the current regulation; if it is not done within the time limit, FEHD will issue a notice in the gazette and can collect and cremate the remains, and the ashes will be buried in Sandy Ridge Cemetery .

Must exhumation be carried out by a designated masonry contractor?

Department. It must be carried out by a masonry contractor registered with FEHD under the supervision of FEHD staff, otherwise the Department has the right to refuse to provide cremation services or issue a relocation permit for the exhumation of remains. The licence application form is FEHB 148 , the fee is $120 (replacement $140), and FEHB 150 will be issued upon completion.

Can ashes be temporarily stored or placed in a house?

Both are possible. FEHD ashes temporary storage service: Kwai Chung only accepts ashes bags , Wo Hop Shek only accepts ashes urns , the storage period is three/six/twelve months, and $80 per month after the first two months (Form FEHB 251). The law also allows no more than 10 the deceased ashes to be stored at home.

Free Advice and Niche Viewings

Choosing a niche or a cemetery involves money, family consensus, and decades of responsibility, so it should not be rushed. Tim Fat Funeral is FEHD licensed undertaker . The store is located in G/F, 26 Baker Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong . It is in the same area as the FEHD Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematorium Office (High Floor Ground Floor, No. 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom). It is very convenient to handle ashes, exhumed remains and exhumation related applications.

Whether you want to know about this month’s public niche lottery, whether you are in time to apply for the third phase of BMCPC, or whether you want to see a few private columbaria before making a decision, please feel free to contact us at any time. Mr Wu answers calls 24 hours a day and provides free professional advice.

Contact method: Phone (24 hours) 82099774 · WhatsApp 62384028 · Email timfatfuneral@gmail.com ·Fax 3599 9637·Address: G/F, 26 Baker Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. For detailed transportation information, please see and contact us .

Quick tour of related pages

Hong Kong columbarium niche and cemetery environment

The application procedures, form numbers, timetables and fees quoted on this page are compiled from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) public columbarium niche allocation arrangements and "Schedule of Cemeteries and Crematorium Service Fees", the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (BMCPC) allocation announcement, and the "Regulation of Private Columbaria" thematic website (Chapter 630 of the Private Columbaria Ordinance and Private Columbarium 2025 (Amendment) Ordinance). The fees, quantities and dates of the government and BMCPC may be revised from time to time. For actual conditions, please refer to the latest official announcement, or call us for free inquiries.