Hung Hom · Complete Funeral Services · FEHD-Licensed Undertaker
Assistance with exhumation, cremation of skeletal remains, and applications for public and private cemetery plots. Find out what to do when the six-year burial period ends.
Many families first come into contact with "exhumation" when they receive a notification letter from FEHD or see a gazette notice in a newspaper. There are usually two types of moods: one is that one does not know what to do, and the other is that one feels disturbed by the deceased and is unhappy.
In fact six years of exhumation is an established system of Hong Kong public cemeteries and is not targeted at any one family. Hong Kong's land resources are tight, and coffin burial plots in public cemeteries are not permanent ; they must be exhumed of remains after six years of burial to free up the cemetery for other families in need. The entire procedure has clear specifications. As long as you follow the four steps, you will not go wrong.
Our company handles exhumation, exhumed remains cremation , and handles applications for public and private cemeteries . Tim Fat Funeral is FEHD licensed undertaker , shop address G/F, 26 Baker Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong , and FEHD Kowloon Cemetery and Crematorium Office (G/F, No. 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom) On the same street, is within walking distance. It is very convenient to apply for a permit. We can accompany family members there.
According to current regulations, exhumation of remains (commonly known as " exhumation " or " exhumation ") must be carried out after six years of burial in public cemetery . This is different from private cemeteries - Private cemeteries are divided into two types: permanent and timely exhumation . Fees and application details must be directly inquired by the individual cemetery management agency.
Before ordering a coffin, please understand: If the burial place is a public cemetery, the coffin is not stored for a long time , and an excessive budget may not meet actual needs. In other words, "choosing a cemetery" and "choosing a coffin" should be considered together. For a comparison of coffin quality and price, see A complete guide to buying coffins .
FEHD will publish a notice in the gazette and send a letter when the time limit expires. However, if the mailing address changes or the original applicant dies, the notice may not reach the heirs. It is recommended that families record themselves: Cemetery name, section of grave, cemetery number, year of burial, name of the original applicant - these five pieces of information will all be needed when handling procedures in the future.
Complete the FEHB 148 form, together with the documents proving ’s relationship with the deceased , to FEHD Hong Kong Island (1J Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley) or Kowloon (Hung Hom (G/F, No. 6 Cheong Hang Road) Cemetery and Crematorium Office, apply for a "Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains" ( FEH(L) 86A ).
fee: $120 (replacement $140 ).
Exhumation must be carried out by a stone mason registered with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, under the supervision of FEHD staff. Otherwise, the FEHD may refuse to cremate the exhumed remains or issue a removal permit.
In other words, exhuming yourself or entrusting an unregistered person will make it impossible to legally handle the exhumed remains later - this is the most serious and most commonly ignored rule. We can arrange the registration of the masonry contractor and coordinate the supervision time on your behalf.
After the collection is completed, an "Authorization Letter for Retrieval of Exhumed Remains" ( FEHB 150 ) will be issued as a certificate for subsequent cremation or reburial of exhumed remains. Along with the previous licence, both documents must be kept properly .
Three options: Cremation of exhumed remains , burial urn reburied in a public cemetery , or reburied in a private cemetery burial urn or ossuary . See the next section for details.
| Where to go | table | Charge | Application location/description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. exhumed remains cremation | FEHB 263 | $90 | Apply at Wo Hop Shek Crematorium or Cheung Chau Crematorium . After cremation, ashes can apply for a niche, add ashes or scatter ashes. |
| 2. burial urn reburial (public cemetery) | FEHB 262 | $6,305 | burial urn (exhumed remains buried) or additional burial of each of the deceased exhumed remains/ashes. |
| 3. Private cemetery burial urn or ossuary | provided by the cemetery | Determined by cemetery | Inquiries should be made directly to the individual cemetery management agency. |
The fee for cremation of exhumed remains is only $90 . The processing flexibility of ashes after cremation is the most flexible:
For a complete comparison of various ashes placement options, see columbarium niche / A complete guide to the four choices in the cemetery .
burial urn is a pottery container containing exhumed remains and used for the burial of exhumed remains. If the family wishes to preserve the tradition of "laying one's body to rest", they can apply to be reburied in a burial urn in a public cemetery ( FEHB 262 , each $6,305 ).
Private cemeteries provide burial sites or ossuaries. The term and fees are determined by individual organisations, and some are permanent. See "Private Cemeteries and Religious Cemeteries" below for details.
Discuss first, then apply: Apply Change Approved exhumation of remains The location to which the exhumed remains will be moved. Each time the " reissue fee " is $140 . It is recommended to discuss with all immediate family members and determine the final destination before submitting FEHB 148 to avoid additional costs and delays.
| Project | Charges (HKD) | table |
|---|---|---|
| Migration or exhumation of remains licence | $120 | FEHB 148 |
| Replacement of relocation or exhumation of remains licence | $140 | — |
| Reissue paper fee (change exhumed remains relocation location) | $140 | — |
| Cremation of exhumed remains | $90 | FEHB 263 |
| burial urn (exhumed remains burial) or burial of each copy of the deceased exhumed remains / ashes | $6,305 | FEHB 262 |
| Adult burial | $3,190 | FEHB 144 |
| Burial of a child | $2,605 | FEHB 144 |
| burial certificate | $140 | — |
| cremation certificate | $140 | FEHB 143 |
| Set per-monument permit | $90 | — |
| Standard columbarium niche (placed after cremation) | $2,400 (first 20 years)/$1,200 (renewal for 10 years) | — |
| Large columbarium niche (placed after cremation) | $3,000 (first 20 years)/$1,500 (renewable for 10 years) | — |
| Add each of the deceased’s ashes to the columbarium niche | $140 | FEHB 136A |
| Temporary storage of ashes after the first two months (monthly) | $80 | FEHB 251 |
Note: The above are all government statutory charges . The exhumation project fee of the registered masonry contractor , the burial urn or container fee, and the undertaker's overall service fee are in addition . We use One list, one clear, one price method to list, will never charge miscellaneous expenses .
If the deceased exhumation has not been exhumed by the expiration of the period, FEHD will publish an announcement in the Gazette and newspaper and send a letter to notify , requesting it to be picked up within the specified time limit. If the ashes are overdue, FEHD will collect and cremate them on their behalf, and bury the ashes in Sandy Ridge Cemetery.
The Government published an order in the Gazette on 14 August 2026. Under section 119A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), FEHD notified the public that remains buried during 2019 in six public cemeteries must be removed and disposed of:
People wishing to make their own arrangements for exhuming and disposing of their relatives’ remains must apply at an FEHD Cemeteries and Crematoria Office on or before 29 August 2026. If these arrangements are not made, remains buried in 2019 at the six cemeteries will first be cremated in a government crematorium, and the ashes will be buried at Sandy Ridge Urn Cemetery in Lo Wu or another cemetery designated by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene.
The lesson is clear: Once the government handles the matter, the family members lose the right to choose - they cannot decide on their own whether the cremation remains, the burial urn, the burial location, or the date and ceremony arrangements. Therefore, you should act as soon as possible after receiving a notification letter or seeing a gazette announcement. Such announcements will be updated in Latest News .
Public cemeteries managed by FEHD that have cemeteries available for burial applications include:
| cemetery | Address/Telephone | Application restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Wo Hop Shek Cemetery | Ming Yin Road, Fanling Tel: 2675 5296 | General application |
| Cheung Chau Cemetery | Cheung Chau | Only for original residents of Islands District or real residents who have long lived in the local area and their minor children, they must submit Rural Committee certification documents |
| Tai O Cemetery | Tai O, Lantau Island | Same as above |
| Mui Wo Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery | Mui Wo, Lantau Island | Same as above |
The applicant or the employed licensed undertaker must make an appointment with the cemetery office in advance for the burial date.
On the day of burial, bring the completed " Application for Burial in a Public Cemetery " form ( FEHB 144 ), and Form 10 (Certificate of Registration of Death for burial) or issued by the Coroner. Form 11 Original.
FEHD allocates a coffin grave to an eligible applicant on the day of application.
After burial, the cemetery name, tomb section, serial number and burial year should be recorded. will be needed six years later .
Fees : Adult burial $3,190 , child burial $2,605 . For the selection and precautions of coffins for burial, see The complete guide to buying coffins ; for the arrangement of setting up the mourning hall and the funeral procession, see The complete guide to funeral parlour .
Private cemeteries are divided into two categories: permanent and which must be exhumed on a regular basis . Please inquire directly with the individual cemetery management agency for fees and application details.
Operated by Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (BMCPC) , it includes Aberdeen, Cape Collinson, Tsuen Wan and Tseung Kwan O four Chinese permanent cemeteries. The Placing Office is located at 34th Floor, Wu Chung Building, 213 Queen's Road East , Wan Chai, Hong Kong , telephone number 2511 1116 , office hours are Monday to Friday 9:00am–12:30am and 2:00pm–4:30pm.
The placement qualifications are persons of Chinese ancestry permanently residing in Hong Kong, or their spouses or their children ; "Permanent residence in Hong Kong" refers to living in Hong Kong continuously for a total of not less than 7 years , or having the right to enter Hong Kong and stay in Hong Kong without any conditions of stay. BMCPC also has a waiting list for reuse of cemetery , and the application schedule is published on its website. For columbarium niche placement details, see columbarium niche / cemetery complete guide .
Taking the Chinese Christian Cemetery under the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Federation (Pok Fu Lam, Union Road, Kowloon) as an example, it is equipped with coffin burial, ossuary, bone cave and other facilities; The rotational burial period is 6 years , The renewable burial period is 20 years for the first time and 10 years for each subsequent renewal. ; Application points are for member hall and for burial (non-member hall) . Please check directly with the relevant agency for actual arrangements. For Christian and Catholic funeral ceremony arrangements, see Various Religious Ceremonies .
If the family plans to move the deceased back to the mainland or overseas hometown, they must clearly distinguish whether they are transporting exhumed remains (not cremated) or ashes (cremated) - the two regulations are completely different.
| Category | Departure (leaving Hong Kong) | Immigration (entering Hong Kong) |
|---|---|---|
| ashes (cremated) | No need to apply to the Hong Kong government. Some countries require " Cremation Certificate " (FEHB 143, $140 ) and " Migration Ashes Permit " (FEHB 148, $120 ) | There is no need to apply for an import licence; however, a cremation certificate and proof that the deceased is a Hong Kong resident must be presented when the deceased is laid to rest in Hong Kong in the future. |
| exhumed remains (not cremated) | You must first complete the exhumation and relocation permit procedures and comply with the requirements of the destination authority | Must apply for " Human Corpse Import Licence " ( DH2437 ) from the Department of Health Port Health Section and provide Medical Certificate of the Cause issued by the authority of the place of shipment. of Death and Departure Permit |
For a full set of cross-border agency services - documents, embalming, insect-proof wooden boxes, consular appointments and flight arrangements - see body of the deceased, exhumed remains and ashes entry-exit agency .
Traditionally, many families will ask the master to choose an auspicious day for exhumation and reburial to avoid evil days. Since exhumation must match FEHD staff supervision time and registered masonry contractor schedule , flexibility should be reserved when choosing a date, and it is not advisable to just lock in one day.
On the day of exhumation and reburial, families commonly prepare incense, candles, offerings and joss paper, with a Taoist ritual master or Buddhist master conducting a short ceremony. If the cremated remains will be placed in a smoke-free columbarium or Garden of Remembrance—for example, Shek Mun Columbarium is entirely smoke-free—use fresh flowers and fruit instead of burning offerings. See our guide to paper offerings and Taoist and Buddhist funeral services for related arrangements.
Address : Upper Ground Floor, No. 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon
Process FEHB 148 relocation or exhumation of remains permits, cremation certificates, etc. is in the same area as the Tim Fat Funeral store (ground floor, 26 Baker Street), within walking distance of , and we can accompany you there.
Address : No. 1 J, Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Also apply for an exhumation licence and related certificates.
Address : Ming Yin Road, Fanling, New Territories Telephone : 2675 5296
Make an appointment for burial and apply for FEHB 144. Wo Hop Shek Crematorium (Wo Hop Shek Kiu Tau Road, Fanling, Tel. 2675 5200) can also handle cremation of exhumed remains.
Address : 34th Floor, Wu Chung Building, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Telephone : 2511 1116
Office hours: Monday to Friday 9:00–12:30, 14:00–16:30 (closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays).
agency service
Check the certificate of relationship with the deceased, compile the cemetery information, and accompany him to the cemetery and crematorium office in Kowloon or Hong Kong Island to apply for FEH(L) 86A.
Arrange masonry contractors that have been registered by FEHD and coordinate the supervision time of FEHD staff to ensure that the procedures are legal and effective.
Carry out cremation of exhumed remains at Wo Hop Shek or Cheung Chau Crematorium, and follow up on ashes arrangements after cremation.
We can arrange reburials in public cemeteries, or arrange burial sites and ossuaries in private cemeteries.
Handle FEHB 144 public cemetery burial applications and reservations, and assist in comparing the age and fees of private cemeteries and religious cemeteries.
Arrange a date, Taoist ritual masters or Buddhist officiant, paper offerings, and a vehicle to pick up and drop off the cemetery to suit the family's itinerary.
Land in Hong Kong is scarce, and coffin graves in public cemeteries are not permanent. Current rules require exhumation after six years to make space for other families. Apply for a permit using FEHB 148, and arrange for a mason registered with FEHD to carry out the work under FEHD supervision.
$120 (replacement $140). 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 cemetery and crematorium office (G/F, No. 6 Cheong Hang Road) handled the application and was issued FEH(L) 86A .
Yes. 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 to issue a relocation permit for the exhumed remains picked up. Self-exhumation will make subsequent exhumed remains unable to be legally processed .
" exhumed remains authorisation letter " ( FEHB 150 ), as a certificate for subsequent cremation or reburial. Together with the "Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains", both documents must be kept properly.
Three options: exhumed remains cremation (FEHB 263, $90 , Wo Hop Shek or Cheung Chau Crematorium); burial urn in a public cemetery (FEHB 262, each $6,305 ); or reburial in a burial urn in a private cemetery or in an ossuary (charges determined by the cemetery).
$90 , to be processed at Wo Hop Shek Crematorium or Cheung Chau Crematorium , form FEHB 263 . Note that this is different from the general cremation of the body of the deceased: $1,220 for adults and $650 for children.
A burial urn is a pottery container containing exhumed remains, used for the burial of exhumed remains. The FEHD fee is "burial urn (exhumed remains burial) or additional burial of the deceased exhumed remains / ashes" $6,305 , form FEHB 262 .
FEHD will publish a gazette and newspaper announcement and send a letter to to request that it be picked up within a specified time limit. If the deceased is overdue, FEHD will collect and cremate them on their behalf, and the ashes will be buried in Sandy Ridge Cemetery - The family members will lose the right to choose and cannot decide on their own whereabouts, location and ceremony.
Six: the coffin grave sections of Wo Hop Shek, Cheung Chau, Tai O and Lai Chi Yuen, and the government urn grave sections of Section T of Sandy Ridge Cemetery and Sandy Ridge Urn Cemetery. The order concerns remains buried during 2019, under section 119A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132). Applications for private arrangements close on 29 August 2026.
Yes, but it costs money. To apply to change the location of the exhumed remains on the approved exhumation of remains permit, the " reissue fee " $140 will be charged each time. It is recommended to discuss with the family to determine the final destination before submitting the form .
Adult burial $3,190 , child burial $2,605 , burial certificate $140, burial urn or additional burial $6,305 each. This is a government statutory fee, does not include coffin, hearse, undertaker service fees and masonry charges.
Wo Hop Shek Cemetery (Ming Yin Road, Fanling, 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 lived there for a long time and their minor children. They must submit Rural Committee certification documents .
The applicant or appointed licensed undertaker must book the burial date with the cemetery office in advance. On the day, bring the completed FEHB 144 and the original Form 10 (burial permit) or Form 11. FEHD allocates the coffin grave on the day of application.
The maximum difference is in years . Public cemeteries must be exhumed after six years; private cemeteries are divided into permanent and which must be exhumed on time . Therefore before ordering a coffin, you should first determine which category the burial place belongs to .
BMCPC operates four Chinese permanent cemeteries (2511 1116) in Aberdeen, Cape Collinson, Tsuen Wan and Tseung Kwan O ; there are also 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 operated by religious or group etc.
Taking the Chinese Christian Cemetery under the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Federation (Pok Fu Lam, Union Road, Kowloon) as an example, coffin burial, ossuary, bone cave ; 6-year rotational burial space , renewable burial space for the first 20 years, and subsequent 10-year renewal periods ; Applications can be processed in member hall and burial (non-member hall) .
Many families will ask masters to choose an auspicious day and prepare incense and candles, offerings and clothing paper on that day. Taoist ritual masters or masters will preside over simple rituals. If ashes are placed in a incense-forbidden venue (such as Shimen columbarium where incense is completely prohibited ), flowers and fruits must be used instead of burning. Flexibility should be allowed when choosing a date, as it must accommodate the supervision time of FEHD staff and the schedule of the masonry contractor.
Usually, family members will be present, not only to show their sincere sympathy, but also to facilitate on-site confirmation and handling of emergencies. Cemeteries are mostly located in suburban areas, so transportation and transportation should be planned in advance; There are a lot of people during the Qingming Festival and Double Ninth Festival , so you should try to avoid it or make an appointment in advance; outdoor operations are affected by the weather, so you should reserve a backup date.
Ashes resulting from cremation of skeletal remains may be brought into or out of Hong Kong without an application to the Hong Kong Government. Some countries nevertheless require a Certificate of Cremation (FEHB 143, HK$140) and a permit to remove ashes (FEHB 148, HK$120). To import uncremated skeletal remains into Hong Kong, an application using DH2437 must be made to the Port Health Division of the Department of Health. See Repatriation of Remains.
Yes. One of the qualifications for the FEHD public niche is that "their remains were legally collected in Hong Kong and then cremated at a government crematorium." When applying, use a copy of the " Permit to Remove / Exhume Remains " instead of the "Ashes Permit" for general cases. FEHD has been allocated monthly starting from August 1, 2026 , with more than 1,600 renewable niches per month.
Our company handles exhumation, exhumed remains cremation , and handles applications for public and private cemeteries . Including: FEHB 148 permit, arrangement registered masonry contractor and coordinated supervision time, FEHB 263 exhumed remains cremation, FEHB 262 burial urn reburial, FEHB 144 public cemetery burial application, as well as date selection, master, offerings and transportation arrangements. 24 hours 82099774 .
Our company acts as an agent for various private/government columbarium niches and cemeteries. Please call us for enquiries. In addition to enjoying special discounts, we have a professional team to pick up and drop off visits and provide professional advice .
Exhumation is something that, for many families, “may happen once or twice in a lifetime.” It is normal that you are not familiar with it. The quickest way is to make a phone call and tell you what information you have - cemetery area, cemetery number, burial time, whether you have received a notification letter - and we can immediately tell you what to do next, how many documents you need to prepare, and how long it will take.
Tim Fat Funeral is FEHD licensed undertaker , located at G/F, 26 Baker Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong , on the same street as FEHD Kowloon Cemetery and Crematorium Office . Serving the Hung Hom, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon City, Ho Man Tin, Whampoa, Yau Tsim Mong, and Wong Tai Sin areas, we also undertake all districts in Hong Kong, New Territories cemeteries and cross-border cases. Mr Wu answers calls 24 hours a day.
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 transportation details, please see and contact us .
The procedures, form numbers and charges on this page are compiled from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) "Schedule of Cemeteries and Crematorium Service Fees", "Instructions for Posthumous Funerals" and related service guidelines, government gazette order announcements (Section 119A of Chapter 132 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance), and information published by the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (BMCPC) and the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Council. Government fees and arrangements may be revised from time to time. The age and fees of each private and religious cemetery are determined by individual organisations. For actual information, please refer to the latest announcements from the official or relevant organisations, or call us for free enquiries. This page was last edited: September 2026.