Closed-circuit TV systems may be installed in public mortuaries to ensure security and proper handling of bodies, the Health, Welfare & Food Bureau says.

In a Legislative Council paper today, the bureau said an inter-departmental committee met on July 11 to look into mortuary and cremation issues, and the systems are one of many improvements being planned and carried out.

Other improvements include mortuary records, which will be computerised to provide real-time management data. Computerisation will be implemented in phases, with the system in Kwai Chung Public Mortuary to launch in September.

The committee said aging Victoria Public Mortuary should be re-provisioned, as it has reached its full capacity. A site at Cape Collinson is being considered.

More capacity

Upon commissioning in 2006, six re-provisioned cremators at Diamond Hill Crematorium will boost annual cremation capacity by 16% to 40,000 sessions. Cremators at Wo Hop Shek and Cape Collinson Crematoria may also be enhanced.

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department estimates annual cremation capacity to rise 50% to 52,700 sessions by 2014.

About 9,700 new niches in columbaria at Cape Collinson, Kwai Chung and Wo Hop Shek are being made for commissioning next year, with an additional 1,000 set for Cheung Chau.

Subject to funding approval from the Finance Committee in 2006, the department aims to provide 18,500 new niches at Diamond Hill Columbarium in 2008.