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有人認為，紅白二事是人生最重要的事，我們知道很多時髦的老友記，已經預早為自己的身後事打點，所以這一節「長者法網智多聲」，就跟大家說一下安排身後事。
在舉行任何安葬儀式之前，死者的家屬或朋友，必須要先為死者領取死亡登記記項核證副本，亦即死亡證。
在香港，現時最普遍的遺體處理方式，就是火葬。政府轄下有六個火葬場，食物環境衛生署的火葬預約聯合辦事處會處理火葬申請。
安置靈灰方面，市民一般都會選擇放在骨灰龕位。所有靈灰安置所都必須得到食環署批准才可以經營。如果您選擇的私人靈灰安置所沒有獲食環署發牌，就要留意了。因為靈灰安置所如果不符合法例或租賃條件，政府可以不批准它們再運作。如果您已經向這些無牌安置所付錢，法律上會視為是訂立了普通合約協議，要打官司才可以追討賠償。為了保障公眾利益，政府正制訂《私營骨灰龕條例》新法例，而在新法例實施之前，選擇靈灰安置所時，要留意它們是否符合所有法律和政府要求，簽約或付錢之前，最好跟負責人搞清楚，安置所一旦結業，會如何賠償。
相比火葬，土葬要花費的錢就比較多。食環署轄下有四個公眾墳場，香港一些宗教和其他團體，亦有經營私營墳場。公眾墳場的骨殖，必須在埋葬六年之後撿拾。
近年政府提倡一些新的處理靈灰方式，其中一種是將骨灰撒在政府管理的八個紀念花園。另一種被視為較環保的方式，就是海上撒灰。公眾可以將靈灰撒在本港三個指定海域之內。有關所有殮葬儀式的詳細資料，大家可以參考長者社區法網文字版，或到食環署網頁看看。
如果想將遺體運到香港以外的地方殮葬也可以的，只要先在死亡登記處申請許可證，以及獲得該地點的大使館或領事館批准，就可以自費安排運走遺體。
不要以為過身以後，只剩下一副臭皮囊，其實死後也可以做善事的。香港有不少病人都在等待器官移植，捐贈器官就可以為他們帶來重生的希望。大家可以到衛生署設立的器官捐贈登記網站，或填寫器官捐贈卡，登記捐贈器官，同時告訴家人您的意願，因為過身之後，還要獲得家屬同意，醫護人員才可以取走器官。器官捐贈並沒有絕對的年齡限制，好像是眼角膜，80歲以下的都可以使用，皮膚捐贈就更是多少歲也可以。
除了我們的網頁，食環署的網頁也備有「辦理身後事須知」小冊子，可以讓大家多點了解如何辦理身後事。希望這一節的資訊可以幫到大家吧。拜拜。
PrintColumbaria
In Hong Kong, the most common and popular way of interment of cremated ashes is to place the cremated ashes in columbarium niches.
Government columbaria
There are 12 public columbaria managed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). The FEHD website lists the available ash niches for application.
The FEHD’s columbarium offers two types of ash niches to choose from:
- standard niches – holding two sets of cremated ashes
- large niches – holding four sets of cremated ashes
The subsequent set of cremated ashes deposited in a niche shall be those of a close relative of or in close relationship with the deceased first deposited in that niche.
Kinship is a general term referring to the most common types of “relatives”, which includes spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings, spouse’s father, spouse’s mother, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, or direct descendants of the paternal or maternal line.
In addition, with effect from 26 April 2019, the FEHD has implemented extendable allocation arrangements for public niches. The initial interment period is 20 years and can be extended at 10-year intervals thereafter upon payment of the prevailing prescribed fee, with no upper limit on the number of times a niche may be extended. For details, please refer to the FEHD’s notice (in Chinese only) and the relevant introductory video.
Columbaria in private cemeteries
In addition to government-managed cemeteries, other private cemeteries in Hong Kong also provide columbarium niches for ash placement. Common cemeteries include the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (website in Chinese only), Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union Cemetery (website in Chinese only), Hong Kong Buddhist Cemetery (website in Chinese only), and the Catholic Cemeteries.
Private Columbaria
The Private Columbaria Ordinance (Cap. 630) came into effect on 30 June 2017. Under the ordinance, operating a private columbarium in Hong Kong requires a license, exemption, or temporary exemption from liability (TSOL). Only licensed private columbaria can sell or rent niches to new tenants. A list of licensed private columbaria can be found and verified on the website of the Private Columbaria Licensing Board.
Under the Ordinance, a 9-month grace period between 30 June 2017 and 29 March 2018 will be applicable to a private columbarium that was in operation immediately before 30 June 2017. For columbarium which was not in operation immediately before 30 June 2017 or columbarium which has been in operation since 1 July 2017, the grace period does not apply.
During the grace period, private columbarium that were still in operation up until 30 June 2017, can continue to operate, but their operators cannot sell or rent niches to new tenants during the grace period. After the grace period, private columbarium niches must obtain a license, exemption, or temporary exemption from legal liability to continue operating, otherwise, they must cease operations and carry out the “Prescribed Ash Disposal Procedures” as required by law.
FAQ
What happens if the chosen private columbarium is not licensed?
Ashes can be placed in a private columbarium until 29 March 2018. If the private columbarium has not obtained a license or exemption by that time, you must find a licensed or exempted private columbarium to place the ashes. Depending on the situation, you may be entitled to compensation from the operator.
It is recommended that before any agreement has been signed or payment has been made, one should verify with the operator of the private columbarium on whether the private columbarium has obtained a licence and how compensation will be awarded if it ceases operation.
For more information, please refer to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s website on regulating private columbaria.
Home
Apart from the above, it is legal for ashes to be placed at home without the need to apply to the government. As cremated ashes have been processed at a high temperature, they will not pose any threat to public health. Members of the public may keep no more than 10 containers of ashes in domestic premises and each container should contain the ashes of no more than one person.