Question 1

What is the difference between private columbarium niche and public columbarium niche?

Accepted Answer

The biggest difference is the arrangement method and price. Public niches are allocated by FEHD through lottery and computer random lottery. You cannot choose your own location. The first 20-year placement period for a standard niche is HK$2,400 and a large niche is HK$3,000. There is no lottery for private niches. You can choose the location, floor and seating direction by yourself. You can buy it and use it immediately. The worship time is more flexible, but the price is much higher, and it must be verified whether the operator holds a licence.

Question 2

How can I tell whether a private columbarium operates legally?

Accepted Answer

The government has established a licensing system through the Private Columbaria Ordinance (Chapter 630). Persons who are operating or intending to operate a private columbarium must obtain specified instruments, namely a licence, exemption or temporary suspension of liability, before operating a columbarium. Members of the public can check FEHD’s “Register of Private Columbaria”. The register is established in accordance with Section 47 of the Private Columbaria Ordinance for public inspection. The main purpose is to allow the public to verify whether a private columbarium holds a valid specified instrument required by the Ordinance, and to view important information on the specified instrument.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Licence holders can sell or lease niches and can operate them normally (including placing ashes); holders of exemptions can operate them normally but cannot sell or rent new niches. Ashes that have been placed before the "cut-off time" can continue to be stored, and niches that have been purchased before the cut-off time but have not exercised or only partially exercised their placement rights can place ashes during the validity period of the exemption. ; Those holding a temporary suspension of liability can operate normally, but they cannot sell or new lease niches, nor can they place new ashes. "Cut-off Time" means 8:00 a.m. on June 18, 2014.

Question 4

How many licensed private columbaria are there in Hong Kong?

Accepted Answer

According to government information submitted to the Legislative Council, as at 28 February 2026 the Private Columbaria Licensing Board had received applications for specified instruments from 147 private columbaria. It had approved 14 licences and 10 exemptions (covering approximately 320,000 niches) and refused licence or exemption applications from 33 columbaria. Applications from 72 columbaria (approximately 420,000 niches) were being processed; 71 had received approval-in-principle, with one still awaiting consideration.

Question 5

Can every niche in a licensed columbarium be purchased?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. The Consumer Council reminds that even if it is a licensed private columbarium, not all niches may comply with the relevant regulations of the Private Columbaria Licensing Board. Consumers should confirm with the columbarium that the relevant niche belongs to the approved part for sale or lease before purchasing or renting. The register will also list important information such as "whether the right to sell the niche is subject to restrictions" and approved plans.

Question 6

How much does a private niche cost?

Accepted Answer

Prices vary enormously. A Consumer Council survey of licensed private columbaria in Hong Kong found up to a 25-fold difference in the cost of interment rights between columbaria. Even within the same columbarium, different grades of single niche could differ by nearly 12 times; the most expensive double niche cost almost HK$5.2 million. At some columbaria, double niches cost approximately HK$200,000 to HK$420,000. Compare options and ask detailed questions before buying.

Question 7

What charges apply in addition to the niche purchase price?

Accepted Answer

The Consumer Council pointed out that after purchasing a niche, consumers may need to pay various handling fees, legal fees, management fees or administrative fees. They also need to pay attention to any changes, such as adding or changing a name, which may require an additional handling fee of over 10,000 Hong Kong dollars at any time. In addition, some columbaria have additional recurring charges such as cleaning fees. The government also advises consumers to clarify the details of each fee, including the nature of the fee and the services included.

Question 8

Is it really that expensive to add or change your name?

Accepted Answer

The Consumer Council's investigation found that all columbaria interviewed require customers to provide the name of the niche user when signing up. Once the user name needs to be changed or added later, relevant restrictions or charges will be encountered, and some charges can reach more than 10,000 Hong Kong dollars. Therefore, before signing a contract, you should think clearly whether there will be a need to add other deceased persons in the future, and ask that relevant arrangements and charges be written into the contract.

Question 9

Am I buying ownership of a niche or the right to use it?

Accepted Answer

The government's "Advice to Consumers" clearly reminds you that you should clarify whether what you are purchasing is the right to use the niche or its ownership. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the term and termination arrangements (if applicable) of the lease, licence, short-term lease or short-term waiver of the land where the private columbarium is located, and learn from the operator about the arrangements for the niche after the expiration of the term.

Question 10

What happens when the land lease expires in 2047?

Accepted Answer

The Consumer Council has reminded in the past that the land lease term of some columbarium niche premises will expire in 2047. At that time, land premium may be required to extend the land use rights. Customers who have purchased the niche may need to share the cost of land premium at that time. Therefore, you should check the land lease term before signing a contract and understand whether the arrangements after expiration have been stipulated in the contract.

Question 11

Is there a cooling-off period?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The licence applicant must submit a sample of the proposed placement rights sale agreement to the Private Columbaria Licensing Board for approval. The agreement must comply with the requirements of the Private Columbaria Ordinance (Chapter 630) and must provide a 14-day cooling-off period to the buyer. The Consumer Council also recommends that consumers inquire with columbarium about the contract details, including payment arrangements and cooling-off period calculation methods, before purchasing or renting. If necessary, they can obtain a contract sample for reference.

Question 12

Is there a mechanism to protect my money?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under the Licensing Board’s Financial Mechanism for Protection of Consumer Interests, licensees required to implement the Basic Financial Arrangements must, during the licence period, deposit 15% of receipts from sales of niche interment rights into a dedicated account with a licensed bank in Hong Kong. Once the balance reaches HK$5 million, they must establish a trust fund and continue depositing 15% into it to support ongoing operations. If the columbarium closes or no longer holds a valid licence, eligible purchasers who meet the prescribed conditions may receive payments under the terms of the trust deed.

Question 13

What happens to the ashes if the columbarium closes?

Accepted Answer

The operator is responsible for carrying out the prescribed ashes disposal procedures in accordance with the Private Columbaria Ordinance, returning ashes to a person who is eligible to retrieve them, and delivering unclaimed ashes to FEHD in a manner specified by the Director of FEHD. Any receiver (including premises owner, mortgagee, liquidator, trustee, etc.) who takes over columbarium premises must also carry out prescribed ashes disposal procedures. The government also recommends that consumers learn from the operator in advance about the handling arrangements during closing and liquidation, whether and how money will be refunded or compensation will be made, and to pay attention to whether the contract has clauses to protect rights in this regard.

Question 14

What are the consequences of operating illegally?

Accepted Answer

The penalties are severe. Unlawfully operating a private columbarium or improperly disposing of ashes carries a fine of HK$2 million and three years’ imprisonment on summary conviction, or HK$5 million and seven years’ imprisonment on conviction on indictment. The Private Columbaria (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 further strengthens regulation, including increased penalties for failing to comply with enforcement notices and new offences and revised penalties for overselling niches and over-interment of ashes.

Question 15

Does inclusion in Part A of the Development Bureau’s Information on Private Columbaria mean it is licensed?

Accepted Answer

No. Being included in the first part of the "Private columbarium niche information" on the Development Bureau's website does not mean that the premises will definitely be approved for a licence. To confirm legality, the specified instrument (licence, exemption or exemption from legal liability) contained in the FEHD "Register of Private Columbaria" should be used. The government also recommends that regardless of whether the relevant private columbarium is listed in the published "Private Columbarium Niche Information", consumers should obtain complete information from the operator for verification.

Question 16

What should I ask the operator before signing a contract?

Accepted Answer

The government's "Advice to Consumers" recommends at least ascertaining: whether what is purchased is the right to use or the ownership; the term and termination arrangements of the land lease or short-term lease; the nature of various fees and the services included; the number of niches that the operator has sold and remaining; whether the niche to be purchased complies with all relevant statutory requirements and the terms of the land grant document; requiring the operator to enter into a contract and indicate relevant matters in the contract; ashes when closing or liquidating Processing, refund and compensation arrangements; and arrangements for selling, transferring niches and changing niche designees upon termination during the contract period. Legal advice should be sought when necessary.

Question 17

What are the practical benefits of a private niche?

Accepted Answer

There are four main items: 1. There is no waiting list by lottery, you can buy and use it immediately; 2. You can choose the location, floor, seating direction and height by yourself, unlike public niches which are randomly assigned; 3. Some facilities are relatively complete, such as indoor air-conditioning, reservations for worship, valet cleaning and other services; 4. The time and arrangement of worship are generally more flexible. The disadvantage is that the price is much higher and you have to verify the licence and contract terms yourself.

Question 18

Should we pay attention to the ban on incense?

Accepted Answer

Want. Some columbaria have arrangements for prohibiting incense, and flowers, fruits, etc. must be used instead of burning incense and candles during worship. For comparison, the FEHD Shek Mun columbarium is completely incense-free; Section A39 of Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery and the new niche in Shung Hau Hall are also all incense-free areas. If your family has a habit of burning paper offerings every year during the Qingming Festival and Double Ninth Festival, you should check directly with the columbarium to confirm whether there are burning paper offerings facilities and the arrangements for their use.

Question 19

What niche agency services does Tim Fat Funeral offer?

Accepted Answer

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 pick up and drop off visitors and provide professional advice, and provide free luxury 7-person car transfer for seat viewing. We will also assist family members to verify the columbarium’s licensing status on the FEHD “Register of Private Columbaria” and interpret the contract terms and fee structure.

Question 20

What should I bring to a viewing, and what should I check?

Accepted Answer

It is recommended to bring the deceased’s information, budget range and opinions of family members. On-site attention should be paid to: the actual location and seating orientation of the niche, lighting and ventilation, floor and elevator arrangements, flow of people and reservation system during the Qingming Festival and Chongyang Festival, whether there are burning paper offerings facilities, whether public transportation is convenient for the elderly, management and cleanliness levels, and whether there is a clear contract sample available for request. Our private car can arrange to visit multiple venues in one day for comparison.

Question 21

Should I choose private or public?

Accepted Answer

It depends on three points: time, budget and family habits. If you are not in a hurry and have a limited budget, public niches are the most cost-effective (a standard niche is only HK$2,400 for the first 20 years). FEHD has changed to monthly allocation starting from August 1, 2026, providing a total of more than 1,600 renewable niches every month, with a maximum waiting period of one month. If your family already has an existing niche, you can directly apply for additional ashes (FEHB 136A, HK$140 per copy, no need to wait). If you are in urgent need of advancement and want to choose your own position, then a private niche is more suitable. We can help compare various routes at the same time.

Question 22

How can I arrange a niche viewing?

Accepted Answer

Telephone (24 hours) 8209 9774, WhatsApp 6238 4028, email timfatfuneral@gmail.com. Address: G/F, 26 Hung Hom Baker Street, Kowloon. Tim Fat Funeral is a FEHD licensed undertaker, with free consultation and free luxury 7-person car transportation for seat viewing. We will not rush family members to make reservations on the spot.

Compare items	FEHD public niche	Chinese Permanent Cemetery	Licensed private columbarium
Price	Standard $2,400 (first 20 years)/Large $3,000	Normal $4,000/family $16,000 (first 20 years)	Ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dollars
Arrangement method	Lottery and computer random drawing , no free choice	Register for lottery allocation	Free selection , ready to use
Waiting time	Monthly allocation, can wait up to one month	Allotment in installments, you have to wait for the next installment	No waiting list
year	The first 20 years, renewable every 10 years ($1,200/$1,500)	The first 20 years, renewable every 10 years ($2,000/$8,000)	Depends on contract (permanent or fixed term) and land lease term
Add ashes	$140/serving, No need to wait (FEHB 136A)	$300/serving	Depending on the contract, adding a name may incur an administration fee exceeding HK$10,000
Eligibility restrictions	the deceased must meet the requirements for residence in Hong Kong and cremation	Must reside permanently in Hong Kong and be of Chinese descent (or their spouse/children)	Generally no special restrictions
Main risks	The draw is uncertain and the location is random.	No backup, must be appointed within 3 months	Need to verify licence, contract terms and closing arrangements

specified instrument	Availability for sale/new rental niche	Can new ashes be placed?	Description
Licence plate	OK	OK	Only licence holders can sell or newly lease niches and operate them normally
Waiver	Not available	There are restrictions	Can 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 their placement rights can be placed during the validity period of the exemption (the names of the recipients must have been recorded in the relevant register)
Temporary exemption from legal liability	Not available	Not available	For general operation only

Category	Pay attention on the spot
niche itself	Actual height (whether to stand on tiptoes or squat), seating orientation, light, adjacent position, niche surface material and lettering effect
Sense of space	The width of the passage (will it be crowded when worshiping), whether there is a place to place offerings, and whether there is enough space for multiple people to worship at the same time.
Facilities	Is it indoors, is there air conditioning, elevators, restrooms, rest areas, and storage of offerings?
Incense candle arrangement	Whether incense is prohibited , whether there is a burning paper offering furnace, whether there is an additional charge for burning paper offerings, and whether flowers are provided
Transportation	Is public transportation convenient for the elderly , whether there are shuttle buses, parking spaces, and the slope of the mountain?
Peak period arrangements	Does Qingming Festival and Double Ninth Festival require reservation , crowd control, and whether there are time limits
Management level	Cleanliness of public areas, attitude of staff, clear instructions, and security arrangements
file	Can the contract sample and approved drawings be provided immediately on site for verification?

Private Columbarium Niches | Special Offers and Free Transport for Viewings

Columbarium Niches and Cemeteries

However, we want to make one thing clear first

On This Page

Private or Public: How to Choose

Legality: three specified instruments

Private Columbaria (Amendment) Ordinance 2025

Latest licensing figures for 2026

Three steps to verify a columbarium

Check the "Register of Private Columbaria"

Make sure the niche you want to buy belongs to the "Approved" section

Request a contract sample and read it item by item

Price: Can differ by 25 times

Main factors affecting price

Hidden fees and contract traps

consumer protection mechanism

A 14-Day Cooling-Off Period

The 15% Dedicated Account and Trust Fund Arrangements

Register open for inspection

What Happens if the Columbarium Closes?

12 questions you must ask before signing a contract

Viewing a Niche: What to Check in Person

Five ways we can help

Licensed columbarium agent

Viewings with Transport in a Luxury Seven-Seater Vehicle

Licence status check

Interpretation of terms and charges

Comparing Public and BMCPC Options Too

Arranging the Interment Ceremony

Private columbarium niche FAQ