Information on private columbaria updated

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     The Development Bureau today (September 29) released updated information on private columbaria (the Information). One columbarium has been removed from the list and relevant details of particular columbaria have been updated. The Information covers the relevant land/lease (user restrictions) and planning information relating to those private columbaria that are made known to the Lands Department (LandsD) or Planning Department, and those which the departments have reason to believe are operating as columbaria. The Information is for general reference. The private columbaria listed in the Information do not necessarily fulfill the licensing requirements under the Private Columbaria Ordinance (the Ordinance) which has come into effect on June 30, 2017. For details of the Ordinance, please visit the website of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (www.fehd.gov.hk/rpc).

     Among the private columbaria included in the Information, 20 are applying to the LandsD for regularisation of land use and/or the Town Planning Board for planning permission. The Information is available on the Development Bureau's website at www.devb.gov.hk/en/issues_in_focus/private_columbaria/index.html.

     "Members of the public who wish to purchase niches at private columbaria are reminded of the importance of obtaining from the operators full and complete information in order to check whether the columbaria are compliant with all the relevant statutory requirements and land lease and/or town planning requirements," a spokesman for the Development Bureau said.

     "To protect their own interests, members of the public are also reminded to ascertain from the operators how they will look after the interests of their customers, such as whether and how they would refund or otherwise compensate their customers in cases in which the respective private columbarium subsequently closes down or is disallowed from operating. Members of the public should seek independent legal advice on their rights when necessary," the spokesman added.

     For enquiries on the Information, please call the enquiry hotline at 3142 2255.

Ends/Friday, September 29, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:00

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