Seven serving and two former staff of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries Board of Management have been arrested for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes for allowing improper exhumation.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption has arrested two supervisors, five assistant supervisors, a former acting supervisor and a former assistant supervisor of the board, as well as five tombstone contractors and four funeral agents since last Thursday.

The Home Affairs Bureau issued a statement tonight confirming the board will fully cooperate and assist the ICAC throughout the investigation.

It also emphasises that the board attaches great importance to staff conduct and will not tolerate any corruption or illegal act.

The board would also review the existing situation and study whether there is room for improvement.

Under the board's regulations, burial lots with a non-renewable lease of 10 years require families to perform exhumation upon lease expiration. They usually enlist the service of tombstone contractors through funeral agents. If the remains are not fully decomposed at the time of exhumation, the body must be reburied for another six months.

The board's staff allegedly took bribes from contractors and agents to allow exhumation to continue even though the remains were not fully decomposed. They are also alleged to have corruptly assisted in advancing appointments for exhumation.