On 1 September 2020, the Diocesan Board of Catholic Cemeteries (DBCC) will launch two trial schemes, namely Exhumable Burial Lot (Multiple Extendable Terms) and Family Niche (Multiple Extendable Terms) at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.
Rev Dominic Chan expressed that the schemes are designed to encourage the co-burial of deceased members of family in the same lot or niche and optimize resources especially when Hong Kong is in shortage of burial grounds. Space permissible, exhumed human remains would not have to be cremated in order to be co-buried with their relatives in the same burial ground.
For Exhumable Burial Lot (Multiple Extendable Terms), the deceased to be first interred must be encoffined while exhumed human remains or ashes can be co-buried at a later date. Depending on the ratio between exhumed human remains and ashes, and the size of the urns, the number of co-burials can be up to 48 sets of ashes.
For Family Niche (Multiple Extendable Terms), its size is the equivalent of two standard niches. It can accommodate up to nine sets of ashes dependent on the size of urns. Because of the increased space, exhumed human remains can be directly deposited in the Family Niche (with other relatives in ashes) without having the need for cremation.
Both schemes are for multiple extendable terms. Upon the expiry of the initial term of 20 years, family will have to pay for the extension every 10 years thereafter.
The schemes allow for a total of 500 Exhumable Burial Lot (Multiple Extendable Terms) and 1,000 Family Niche (Multiple Extendable Terms); of which 200 lots and 240 niches will be respectively offered in the initial stage. If the schemes are widely acceptable by faithful, DBCC will certainly consider introducing similar schemes at St Raphael's Catholic Cemetery in Cheung Sha Wan in the future.
Diocesan Board of Catholic Cemeteries
2020-08-27 Press release on trial scheme _Eng_ 