Crematoriums to remain open on Ching Ming Festival

The government said on Friday it is addressing a pressing need for cremation services in the city, as it continues to tackle a shortage of coffins.

In a statement, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said all government crematoriums will remain open on April 5 – the Ching Ming Festival public holiday – though they are usually closed that day to limit traffic on an occasion when many people visit cemeteries to pay tribute to their ancestors.

The department said it has also significantly increased the number of cremation sessions available each day from the usual 130-140, to as many as 300.

Separately, the FEHD said 330 more coffins have arrived in Hong Kong by land and by sea from the mainland on Friday – and a further 500 will come this weekend.

Over the past five days, more than 1,200 coffins have arrived here, after local suppliers complained of difficulties in getting them delivered due to the Covid situation in the SAR and across the border.