Before arranging burial, distinguish public, private and religious cemeteries. Coffin burial in a public cemetery is not permanent: check eligibility, documents, the six-year arrangements and subsequent notices.
Establish the cemetery type first
Ask who manages the cemetery, whether it accepts the case and whether coffin burial is available. FEHD manages public cemeteries; private operators and religious organisations set their own application and management requirements. Prepare the deceased's identification and relevant death-registration documents, then confirm any additional evidence required.
| Type | Management | Initial enquiries | Important conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public | FEHD. | Designated cemetery, eligibility, death-registration evidence or burial order, and availability. | Coffin burial is not permanent; the six-year arrangements apply. |
| Private | Individual operator or management organisation. | Available places, eligibility, contract, management charges and renewal terms. | The individual contract and cemetery rules govern use. |
| Religious | Religious body or its management organisation. | Religious affiliation, membership, recommendation or other evidence. | Follow the organisation's burial and visiting rules. |
Some applications depend on the deceased's identity, residential connection, religious affiliation or availability. Record the answers rather than assuming that one cemetery's rules apply elsewhere.
What does the six-year rule mean?
For the relevant public cemeteries, FEHD explains that the Government publishes removal orders in the Gazette for coffin burials exceeding six years. This arrangement must not automatically be applied to private or religious cemeteries. At application, confirm whether the place is covered and which office handles it. After burial, retain the cemetery, applicant and contact-address records. Keep family records current after a move. As the relevant period approaches, follow official notices and Gazette arrangements rather than hearsay. On receiving a notice, confirm the options and deadline before discussing the next steps with relatives. Exhumation, removal and permits are separate procedures. Consult the current FEHD information and the dedicated remains-transfer guide.
An urn place is not a coffin-burial place
Urn placement and coffin burial are separate arrangements. Their documents and management arrangements differ and should be recorded separately. Confirm precisely what the proposed urn place accepts and which rules apply; do not substitute coffin-burial information. If coffin burial is not preferred, consider the separate green-burial arrangements. Begin with the deceased's known wishes, then compare acceptable family options and the managing authority's requirements. Ask about one arrangement at a time to avoid combining incompatible answers.
Set three boundaries before choosing
Cemetery decisions may involve distance, religion, future visits and different relatives' views. List what is fixed, what is negotiable and what requires verification. For example, Ms Ho records her father's religious background, acceptable districts and future family responsibilities before enquiring. She does not commit to a place before eligibility is confirmed.
Printable burial checklist
- Identify whether the cemetery is public, private or religious.
- Record known religious or burial wishes; mark uncertainties.
- Confirm eligibility, availability and documents with management.
- Record the applicable public-cemetery six-year arrangements and contacts.
- Nominate a relative to receive future official notices.
Use the first-72-hours guide for the wider sequence, placing the cemetery application after the relevant documents are confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Can a coffin-burial place be kept permanently?
Not in the public-cemetery arrangement described here. Burials exceeding six years are subject to the removal system. Check private and religious cemetery rules individually.
Is private burial necessarily easier to arrange?
No. Availability, eligibility and contracts differ; public applications follow FEHD's designated arrangements.
Can an urn place be applied for as a coffin-burial place?
No. They are different arrangements requiring separate enquiries.
What should we do with a six-year notice?
Check the case reference and deadline, then confirm available arrangements with the authority. Removal work and permits follow their own procedure.
Related guides
- Moving Remains or Adding Ashes to a Niche: Permits and the Correct Sequence
- Green Burial in Hong Kong: Gardens of Remembrance and Scattering Ashes at Sea
- What to Do After a Death in Hong Kong: The First 72 Hours
Contact Tim Fat Funeral
For help organising the next steps, contact Tim Fat Funeral on our 24-hour telephone 8209 9774 or WhatsApp 6238 4028. Share the family's wishes and confirmed arrangements so we can help coordinate the practical details. Religious rites should be agreed with the officiant; family and regional customs may differ.