FEHD accepts public-niche applications monthly. First check the deceased's eligibility, organise identification and cremation evidence, then retain the application reference and check the ballot result.
Monthly allocation as at September 2026
From 1 August 2026, FEHD included new niches at Wo Hop Shek Phase VI, the Cape Collinson New Building, Shek Mun and Tsang Tsui columbaria in monthly allocation. Families should read the notice for the current application month rather than assume they must wait for an annual exercise. The Government's August 2026 announcement described more than 1,600 renewable niches across the four facilities each month, subject to adjustment. Availability and incense restrictions vary by location.
- Applications generally open at 9 am on the month's first day and close at 5 pm on its last day, unless otherwise announced.
- Public balloting and computer random allocation determine both successful applications and niche locations.
- The ballot is generally at 10 am on the following month's 20th day; check arrangements where that falls on a Saturday or specified holiday.
- FEHD's public-niche allocation hotline is 2841 9111. Keep your application number.
If the family accepts only one location, read what happens if that preference is unavailable. FEHD explains that an application unsuccessful for its preferred location may receive a Tsang Tsui allocation. Discuss acceptance before submission, not after notification. Current FEHD notices take precedence over this dated overview.
Three eligibility routes
Possession of ashes or a Hong Kong identity card alone does not establish eligibility. Identify the route that applies and support it with documents.
| Route | Deceased's circumstances | Evidence to check |
|---|---|---|
| Local cremation | Hong Kong resident at death; remains cremated at a government crematorium within three months after death. | Residency at death, cremation place and date. |
| Cremation outside Hong Kong | Hong Kong resident for at least ten years during the twenty years before death, with cremation outside Hong Kong. | Relevant residency documents and lawful overseas cremation evidence. |
| Cremation after lawful exhumation | Remains lawfully exhumed in Hong Kong and subsequently cremated at a government crematorium. | Exhumation permission and later cremation evidence. |
The time conditions have different starting points: local cremation is measured after death; overseas cases examine residence before death. Put death date, cremation date and residency records on one sheet. Ask FEHD how to establish eligibility if documents differ. FEHD assesses whether the evidence meets its conditions.
Separate applicant and deceased-person documents
Use separate labelled folders for the applicant and each deceased person. Online copies must meet format and legibility requirements; originals may be needed for allocation formalities. Prepare the applicant's Hong Kong identity-card copy and reliable telephone, email or postal address; each deceased person's identity-card copy or other residency evidence; and the relevant ashes or cremation documents. These may include a Permit to Take Away Cremated Ashes, Certificate of Cremation or Permit to Remove/Exhume Remains, as applicable. For multiple sets of ashes, provide the required proof of close family or other qualifying relationship to the first deceased person, such as marriage or birth certificates. Ask another relative to check names, identification numbers, complete scans and the correct relationships. Some cases involving ashes still at a government crematorium or a booked cremation have different submission arrangements. Do not omit documents yourself: ask 2841 9111 whether later submission is allowed and by when.
Submission and allocation
Use FEHD's online application or Cemeteries and Crematoria Services Platform, or obtain the current paper form and follow the announced office or postal route. Observe that month's closing time. Check names, identification and niche type; upload clear PDF or JPEG copies as required; register working contact details; and retain the acknowledgement and application number. Submission does not mean allocation. Check the published ballot result, including any Tsang Tsui offer if the preferred facility is unavailable. Successful applicants must follow the notice on the assigned location, originals, payment and interment formalities. Do not assume a choice of orientation or height. Paper forms may be obtained or submitted at FEHD's Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Offices. Some successful applicants are directed to the Public Niche Allocation Office in Kwai Fong. The submission and later appointment addresses may differ: check the notice before travelling. FEHD has not appointed organisations to receive applications or provide preferential access. Families may apply directly in their own names.
Renewable rights and future contacts
The initial interment period is twenty years, with subsequent ten-year renewals under the rules then in force. Keep applicant and nominated-representative contacts current. Ms Chan and her sister overseas originally keep different scans for their father's application. They agree on Ms Chan as applicant, reconcile names and cremation documents, then share the application number.
Printable application checklist
Record this month's opening and closing times; applicable eligibility route; applicant identification and contacts; residency and cremation evidence for each deceased person; relationship evidence for multiple interments; submission, acknowledgement and reference; ballot enquiry date; and the person attending allocation formalities, keeping originals and receiving future renewal notices.
Frequently asked questions
Must families still wait for an annual allocation?
As at September 2026, the four facilities above operate monthly allocation. Check current supply and deadlines.
How many niches are offered monthly?
The August 2026 announcement stated more than 1,600 across the four sites, subject to change.
Can applicants choose the height or orientation?
Do not expect to. Individual niches are allocated by ballot and computer random allocation; read the result carefully.
What if no acknowledgement arrives?
Check email and spam folders and retain the submission record. If none arrives ten calendar days after submission, enquire on 2841 9111.
Related guides
- Comparing Tsang Tsui, Wo Hop Shek and Cape Collinson Columbaria
- Moving Remains or Adding Ashes to a Niche: Permits and the Correct Sequence
- Government Cremation, Ashes Storage and Niche Fees in Hong Kong
- Choosing a Private Columbarium: Licence Checks and Contract Terms
Official sources and further information
- Hong Kong Government news: public niche allocation (Chinese)
- Food and Environmental Hygiene Department: official guidance (Chinese)
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.