The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department announced that, from August 1, three more columbaria will be included in monthly niche allocations, in addition to the Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun.

The three additional columbaria are Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Chai Wan.

Under the new arrangement, the four columbaria will provide not less than 1,600 extendable niches each month.

The department emphasised that every applicant will be allocated a niche under the new arrangement.

If the number of applications for a particular columbarium exceeds the niches available, the department will automatically allocate a niche at Tsang Tsui Columbarium.

Applicants can then decide whether to accept the niche automatically assigned to them at Tsang Tsui Columbarium. If they choose to decline it, they can re-submit their application the following month.

However, if a successful applicant declines an allocated niche at their selected columbarium, the department will not accept any further applications for the same deceased person at the same columbarium for a period of six months. 

The department said about 18,000 niches had been allocated annually in the past two years.

It added that the monthly supply of not less than 1,600 extendable niches, adding up to a total supply of not less than 19,000 niches in a year, is sufficient to meet public demand. 

Once the new arrangement takes effect, the department will no longer conduct annual allocations. 

To facilitate implementation of the new arrangement, the department will conduct an annual allocation exercise next month to address the demand for niches that has arisen since last year’s annual allocation.

There will be a total of 12,150 extendable public niches in this exercise, comprising 4,000 standard niches and 50 large niches at each of Shek Mun Columbarium, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium.

The department is planning to organise a public drawing of lots and random computer balloting in late July to determine the allocation of niches to successful applicants.

In addition, Wo Hop Shek Garden at Forever Love Phase II, which provides abortus-keeping services, will be open for public applications from April 1. The columbarium’s first water-soluble commemorative facility, “The Spring of Love”, will open for public use on the same day.