The applicant should submit a completed "Application for Scattering Cremated Ashes / Mounting Commemorative Plaques at Gardens of Remembrance" [FEHB 219] to the FEHD at least 14 days before the intended date of ash scattering.

The FEHD will normally grant approval within 10 working days after receiving an application.

For application for scattering of cremains in a Garden of Remembrance on an outlying island, a supporting document issued by the rural committee of the relevant island and a statutory declaration made by the legal representative or next of kin of the deceased person are required to certify that the deceased meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Cheung Chau Garden of Remembrance
  The deceased should be certified by the Cheung Chau Rural Committee as an indigenous villager of the Islands District, or a bona fide resident of the Island District for a continuous residing period of not less than 10 years, or a minor child of such person.
• Other Gardens of Remembrance in the Islands District (apart from Cheung Chau Garden of Remembrance)
  The deceased should be certified by the relevant rural committee as an indigenous villager of the Islands District, or a bona fide resident of the Island District for a continuous residing period of not less than seven years, or a minor child of such person.

"Continuous residing period" means the period that the deceased continuously resided on the island concerned right before his / her death.

If the applicant is not the holder of the "Permit to Take Away Cremated Ashes", he / she should provide the original authorisation document signed by the permit holder, together with a copy of the identification document of the permit holder for verification.

The plaques in the Garden of Remembrance are intended only for commemorating deceased whose ashes are scattered at that venue.

To apply for mounting commemorative plaques, applicants should bring along the "Permit to Take Away Cremated Ashes" together with a copy of the Hong Kong identification document of the deceased to a Cemeteries and Crematoria Office of the FEHD at Hung Hom or Happy Valley to go through the application formalities at least 14 days before the intended installation of the plaque. The application fee for mounting a commemorative plaque is HK$90 (the costs for purchase and installation of the plaque are not included). The fee is subject to adjustment from time to time and the applicant should pay the prevailing prescribed fee on the day of payment. Fees paid are not refundable.

Applicants must adhere to the following conditions:

• The commemorative plaque shall be provided by the applicant, and must be installed by a registered contractor of the FEHD under the supervision of FEHD staff, and must meet the following conditions:
  • The commemorative plaque shall be made of an Italian marble named "Travertino" or a marble of the same colour tone, with a prescribed size of 150 mm (width) x 55 mm (height).
  • The serial number (e.g. A028) assigned by the FEHD for each plaque space may be required to be etched into the lower right corner of the plaque according to the requirements of the venue concerned. Every word shall be clear and distinct.
  • The photo of each deceased person on the commemorative plaque together with its background must not be greater than 5 cm wide and 5 cm high. If there is more than one photo of the deceased, the total area of all photos should not exceed 40% of the area of the plaque.
  • Except with the permission from the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, the rest of the plaque area other than those parts covered by photo(s) and inscription shall maintain the original colour tone of "Travertino" marble. No part of the commemorative plaque shall be inlaid with foreign objects.
• Prior to the mounting of the commemorative plaque at the venue concerned, the applicant shall submit to the FEHD the inscription of the plaque (including text and pattern) for inspection. In case the name of the deceased shown on the plaque does not tally with that on the "Permit to Take Away Cremated Ashes" or "Certificate of Cremation", applicants must apply to the FEHD in advance for approval.
• If the applicant wishes to alter or change the inscription (including text and pattern) after the completion of the mounting works of the commemorative plaque, an application shall be made for that purpose and the approval by the FEHD shall be obtained prior to such alteration and change.

Please pay attention that, under section 21(3) of the Cremation and Gardens of Remembrance Regulation (Cap. 132M), the FEHD may remove any monument, commemorative tablet, inscription, receptacle for flowers, ornament, etc. placed in any Garden of Remembrance without prior permission.

Members of the public may apply for scattering the cremated ashes of a deceased person in a Garden of Remembrance of the FEHD even if the deceased was not a Hong Kong resident. However, if the applicant wishes to mount a commemorative plaque in the Garden of Remembrance for the deceased, he / she is required to provide relevant documents to prove the Hong Kong resident status of the deceased.

The FEHD provides the following scattering devices for use by members of the public in its Gardens of Remembrance free of charge:

1. Metal scattering device
2. One-off paper scattering device

If the bereaved use the one-off paper scattering device provided by the FEHD, after scattering of ashes, they can choose to have the paper scattering device burnt in a joss paper burner or keep it as a memento. Alternatively, they can hand the device to the FEHD staff for burning on their behalf free of charge.

Absolutely.

Members of the public may bring their own scattering devices or other containers to scatter cremated ashes in Gardens of Remembrance for a more personalised ash scattering ceremony. Different styles of newly-designed scattering devices are available for sale in the market. Please contact the relevant undertakers/shops direct for more information.

(Note: Please be reminded to bring the scattering device along with the cremated ashes of the deceased to the Garden of Remembrance on the ash scattering day.)

Absolutely. The FEHD will arrange for its venue staff to sprinkle water in the Garden of Remembrance after ash scattering.

Tsang Tsui Garden of Remembrance features a Ceremonial Room that allows relatives and friends of the deceased to use for free prior to the ash scattering ceremony in the garden. They can conduct simple farewell ceremonies, such as singing hymns, praying, reciting scriptures, etc. thereat according to the wishes or religious beliefs of the deceased. No burning of joss sticks or joss paper is allowed in the room, and the room should be kept in a clean and tidy condition. Users must comply with the rules of using the venue. Anyone who wish to use the room may call 2713 1077 to make a reservation one working day in advance. Reservations are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. To avoid queuing up of other users, the recommended time of use is 15 to 30 minutes.